Summary

Asks whether CD believes natural selection obviates man’s ability to be guided by spiritual motives. Is anxious that his theory be compatible with her faith.

Summary

Mr Corbet too ill to write. Thanks for CD’s letter [see 5290].

Summary

Scarlet seed is Adenanthera pavonina. JDH’s suggestion on how disseminated.

On Herbert Spencer, "all oil no bone – a thinking pump", but his paper on sap and wood [Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 25 (1866): 405–30] is good science. His refusal to bring a specimen for analysis when confronted by JDH.

Bentham and Martin disagreement.

Speculations on New Zealand flora.

Albert Günther’s paper on fishes on each side of Isthmus of Panama [Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. (1866): 600–4].

On the quantity (bulk and weight) of organic life [matter].

Summary

Thinks of adding chapter on man to Variation. Asks about muscles connected to os coccyx in man and existence of other rudimentary organs in man.

Sends copy of Origin.

Summary

Is unable to answer her questions about religious implications of natural selection, but would prefer to believe that suffering in world is due to natural events.

Summary

Thanks for information. Sclater was source of statement about Numida ptiloryncha [as origin of guinea-fowl] in The poultry book [pt 12 (Dec 1866): 288].

Summary

Acknowledges a subscription to the Down [Coal and Clothing] Club.

Summary

Thanks CD for reassurance that moral and religious faith are valid independently of his theory.

Summary

Gives information about obtaining the most recent (4th) edition of Origin.

Is glad to hear that his correspondent is interested in the subject.

Summary

Thanks for calling his attention to ancestry of guinea-fowl.

Summary

Asks for a letter on the tameness of deer, written by Commander A. Boutakoff to R. I. Murchison and printed in the Journal [J. R. Geogr. Soc. 23 (1853): 93–101].

Summary

HWB sends a copy [missing] of Boutakoff’s letter, explaining that the deer were saiga antelopes and the islands were new discoveries.

Summary

Submits the MS of Variation, all excepting the section on Man.

Summary

First impressions of Haeckel’s Generelle morphologie.

Has received THH’s [Lessons in elementary] Physiology [1866]

and reread Man’s place.

Asks THH to read revised "Hybridism" chapter in new edition of Origin. Hopes it will change THH’s view.

Convinced of P. S. Pallas’ view of loss of sterility under domestication.

Summary

Thanks CD for previous communications. Asks him to send a paper relating to flowers to be read at first meeting of her ladies’ literary and scientific society.

Summary

The presentation copy [of Origin, 4th ed.] was sent to B. D. Walsh in August. Will send another.

Summary

Encloses a portion of a letter from B. D. Walsh [5319] concerning an American interested in exchanging birds’ skins.

Summary

Balbiani’s puzzling observations on Aphis.

Summary

Has finished Variation. May insert a chapter on man.

Still puzzled by seeds of Adenanthera.

New Zealand and Borneo flora problems continued.

Fritz Müller found six genera of dimorphic plants in one day.

Summary

Two parcels of MS [of Variation] have arrived. Will proceed with printing immediately after Christmas.