Summary

Is glad that JDH is willing to try Candolle’s experiment [see 6915]. Encloses all the seeds except a few taken from the Moscow and Palermo packets.

Summary

Orchids translation should goad [French] Academy into electing CD.

JDH will be sent to St Petersburg congress by Government.

Huxley on protoplasm; his address to Geological Society.

Fertilised an Aucuba with pollen of various species. Reports on results.

Summary

A parcel of engravings has come; shall EAD send them on?

Summary

Thanks AdeC for his interesting letter [6915]. The experiment strikes CD as a very valuable one. CD has forwarded the letter to Hooker, who is glad to make the trial. CD will have many experiments in progress next spring but he will open the packet of seeds and if they are numerous, will try a few himself.

Summary

Provides further detail on his smooth-leaved holly tree with a spiny-leaved branch; his gardener asserts no budding or grafting has taken place.

Summary

Differences in size and weight in deerhounds, with tables of comparative weights according to sex. Promises information on weights of deerhound puppies. Effects of cross- and inbreeding.

Summary

Nothing new in Lushington’s letter. Two paragraphs are offensive – that THH sought to stir up Scotch Presbyterian prejudices against Comte at Edinburgh and that he had not read Comte.

Summary

Asks CD’s advice on procuring rabbits for experiments [to test Pangenesis by transfusing alien blood into does and breeding from them].

Summary

Weight statistics on deerhound puppies born 23 Sept 1869.

Summary

Writing to friends on CD’s behalf about deer: T. T. Wright, Archibald McNeill.

Summary

Drosophyllum lusitanicum.

Believes principle of natural selection can be more widely applied.

Flower structure of Geranium.

Summary

Describes how the offer of C.B. was made. He declined a knighthood. Murchison and Lyell are trying to get him made Knight Commander of the Star of India, but he does not think there is a chance. The Duke [of Argyll?] might do it, but does not like JDH’s Darwinism.

Next Presidency of Royal Society discussed: all (Brodie, the X Club botanists, et al.) are agreed on Lyell.

Everyone is disappointed with Nature.

What did CD think of "Huxley’s rhapsody on Goethe’s ditto" [Nature 1 (1869): 9–11]?

Summary

DF’s opinion of Gustav Jenzsch’s book [Mikroskopische Flora und Fauna (1868)]. Encloses extract of a letter from Ferdinand Zirkel also mentioning Jenzsch’s work.

Summary

Thanks AD for his work. CD regrets he is not a better German scholar, but he must endeavour to understand AD’s views.

Summary

Apologises for passing on what he agrees were offensive remarks in V. Lushington’s letter. Has told VL he had no right to make them. Asks THH to make allowance for red-hot disciples defending the master.

Summary

Last letter was written to be passed on for Lushington’s edification. "(Standing on the points of my toes and my tail very stiff)." Is tiring of controversy as a waste of time. Begins to understand CD’s sufferings over Origin.

Summary

Discusses need for cross-fertilisation in Geranium.

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

Summary

Envies JDH’s Russian trip.

Thanks for information on Aucuba. Urges him to experiment – case "has highest physiological importance, not to mention Pangenesis".

Has heard that Huxley has been attacking views of Sir W. Thomson.

Has received 12 plants of Drosophyllum lusitanicum from Oporto.

Summary

Will obtain some Drosophyllum seed for CD.

Summary

Sends MS of 13 pages in answer to Nägeli, for new edition of Origin [5th ed., p. 151].