Summary

Has not strength nor time to alter and improve Variation.

First English edition of Expression now at 9000 copies.

Summary

Sends first four sheets [of Descent]. Murray charges £14 for the 64 stereotypes.

Cannot supply copies of woodcuts from Brehm’s Illustrirtes Thierleben [1864–9]. Hopes JVC’s publisher will be able to arrange to include them.

Summary

JVC proposes to correct Bronn’s mistakes [in his translation of Origin], but will not add his own notes.

Asks CD to write a note on Nägeli’s pamphlet [Entstehung und Begriff] for the revised edition.

Also requests biographical information for an encyclopedia article he has been asked to write.

Summary

Some corrections and queries about Variation text. Is pushing hard to finish, but CD is right that the names in the notes make the work interminable. Fears he is causing delay in publication. Is astonished at "the wonderful array of facts brought together and at the manner in which you bring them to bear".

Summary

Plans to have J. V. Carus handle translation of new edition of Origin. Describes Carus’ views on the edition.

Summary

Discusses Ernst Krause’s publication of an extract from Earthworms translated into German in the journal Kosmos.

Summary

Will consider JVC’s comments on Expression when he prepares a new edition.

Summary

CD thought it was understood that he wanted to publish [Earthworms] at once, but as Murray "has the risk" CD must yield, though it destroys all his satisfaction in the book to have the publication hanging over him.

Summary

CD is delighted that JVC will undertake translation of Variation.

Agrees with JVC’s opinion of Haeckel’s book [Generelle Morphologie (1866)]. CD believes it is bad policy for Haeckel to speak so positively about a disputed theory [i.e., CD’s] and particularly regrets the severity of EH’s criticisms of other authors.

Summary

Anxious to read the second volume [of Variation].

Appreciates "the way in which you [CD] teach us all how to look on, and how to study, nature".

Summary

Thanks JVC for his criticisms and corrections of Expression. Asks him to alter his translation accordingly.

Summary

Encloses letter from H. B. Geinitz, who declines to handle translation of new edition of Origin. Recommends Julius Victor Carus. Also suggests Gustav von Leonhard as translator for Origin.

Discusses translation of Variation.

Summary

Discusses need for cross-fertilisation in Geranium.

Hooker begins to doubt whether Drosophyllum so closely allied to Drosera.

Summary

Case of Roman roads would have been worth investigating for Earthworms. [See 13531.]

Summary

Thanks JVC for corrections of Movement in plants. Sends a clarifying sentence.

Earthworms nearly done – "a small book of little moment".

Reports his health is better than it was, "but I have little strength & feel very old".

Summary

Agrees to publish German edition of Variation.

Discusses publication of third German ed. of Origin.

Thanks CD for portrait.

Summary

CD thinks JVC’s preface is fair to Bronn. Regrets JVC has not added notes of his own, but, having dropped Bronn’s appendix, it is perhaps best to leave the text without comment. Rejoices that the German public can now judge the Origin fairly.

Has written to W. B. Carpenter for a specimen of Eozoon to send to JVC.

Summary

Wants seeds of Nesaea verticillata for crossing experiments to see whether seedlings from "illegitimate unions" are sterile like true hybrids.

Summary

Answers some question about species.

Sends biographical sketch.

Now considers that a note on Nägeli would have to be too long to include. Discusses his differences with Nägeli. Cannot believe in spontaneous generation. At present the principle of life seems to him beyond the confines of science.

Summary

Thanks for proofs [of Descent, 2d English ed.].

Publisher would like better photographs for Expression [2d German ed.].