Summary

Variations in nature arise from unknown causes, accidentally or spontaneously, and are preserved by natural selection if beneficial.

Summary

Responds to LH’s comments on South America.

Discusses inclination of lava stream.

Sketches in second edition of Journal of researches more accurate than in first.

Summary

Postpones meeting with CD because he must attend House of Commons for Factory Amendment Act.

Summary

Much pleased that LH approves of Origin.

"Ilkley [Wells] did me extraordinary good."

Wants to know C. J. F. Bunbury’s opinion of Origin.

Summary

Sends notes on volcanic islands for LH to read and return.

[Letter could be an inaccurate contemporary copy to which the copyist interpolated details, or a forgery. The address "Down House Orpington Kent" occurs nowhere else.]

Summary

Regrets that he has not published his information on superficial beds except in abbreviated form, on p. 143 of Volcanic islands.

Summary

Sends condolences on death of LH’s wife. Recalls many pleasant hours in Bedford Place. He and Emma thank LH for sending the memorial paper.

Summary

Comments on LH’s "Anniversary Address of the President", [Q. J. Geol. Soc. Lond. 17 (1861): xxxi–lxxii]. Notes LH’s comments on metamorphism, antiquity of man, and the Bible. Thanks him for his remarks on Origin.

Summary

Thanks LH for memorandum [missing] by K. R. Lepsius.

Summary

CD has been a referee for LH’s Nile geology paper [Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 145 (1855): 105–38]. Praises the work but offers criticism not in his report: Joseph Russegger’s statement about the baked Upper Sandstone deposit cannot be believed; LH’s paper is too long.

Summary

Thanks Horner for his letter [about Volcanic islands].

Discusses craters of elevation with respect to the views of Leopold von Buch and Élie de Beaumont. Compares Lyell’s views to those of continental geologists. Mentions reading A. D. d’Orbigny [Voyage dans l’Amérique méridionale (1835–47)].

Encloses note from Emma to Mrs Horner, inviting the Horners to visit Down.

Summary

Discusses proposed survey of Glen Roy. Mentions Glen Roy theories of Agassiz and William Buckland. Includes a memorandum calling for a careful survey of the parallel roads of Glen Roy. Mentions M. A. Bravais ["On the lines of ancient level of the sea in Finmark", Q. J. Geol. Soc. Lond. 1 (1845): 534].

Summary

Responds to LH’s comments on South America.

Thinks it unsound to designate a geological epoch after man. Doubts people’s confidence in date of man’s introduction.

Criticises A. D. d’Orbigny’s theory of elevation of the Cordillera.

Lists sections of South America of special interest.

Summary

Recommends Leonard Horner’s "Account of some recent researches near Cairo" for publication in Philosophical Transactions [R. Soc. Lond. 148 (1858): 53–9]. Believes all the details and sections should be published in full because of importance of investigations leading to the conclusion that man has existed in Egypt for over 13000 years.