Summary

Thanks for volume on craniology

and for suggestion to Austrian Government that CD receive volumes on Novara voyage.

Summary

Proof sheets [of Cross and self-fertilisation] have been lost.

Summary

Clarifies a passage [in Coral reefs, 2d ed. (1874)], which JVC had questioned.

Summary

Sends an omitted reference to an article by Dr Ascherson [Bot. Ztg. (1871): 444 et seq.] for Cross and self-fertilisation.

Summary

Tells JVC that to the title on the first page [of Cross and self-fertilisation] is to be added "in the vegetable kingdom".

Guesses that Orchids [2d ed.] will be 20 or 30 pages longer than the old edition.

Summary

Sends sheets [of Cross and self-fertilisation].

Heliotypes for Expression delayed because new negatives must be made.

Thanks Herr Koch [of Schweizerbart] for copies of Coral reefs and Climbing plants.

Summary

Has sent off Bulls Horn to Kew; has sent hamper to CD; is preparing drawings for his presentation at the Linnean Society; asks after William, and hopes to be able to come to visit.

Summary

Sends first sheets of Cross and self fertilisation. The book is a very dull record of experiments, but nevertheless CD believes it is valuable for its remarkable and well-established results.

Orchids [2d ed.] will soon go to the printer.

Summary

Tells JVC what changes have been made in the new edition of his geological book [Volcanic islands and South America].

Does not know why he doubted about the Atlantic dust paper – now thinks it worth translating.

Glad JVC has not found Cross and self-fertilisation as intolerably dull as CD feared. Answers his queries about Cross and self-fertilisation.

Summary

Answers queries concerning errata in Coral reefs.

All copies of Volcanic islands are sold. Smith, Elder & Co. want to bring out a new edition, but CD is resolved not to look at a single proof.

Summary

Glad to hear that [German edition of] Insectivorous plants is published.

Thanks for errata in Climbing plants [2d ed.].

Sends list [missing] of his papers, with those certainly not worth translating marked with a red line.

Reports on work in progress.

Summary

Further detailed comments on Geographical distribution.

Base treatment [of George Darwin] by Mivart in Quarterly Review [137 (1874): 40–77].

Summary

Fondly remembers the days he spent with TCE.

Doubts the Canadian skeleton will have anything to do with man.

Returns extracts.

Samuel Haughton is a bitter opponent.

CD now working on plants;

doubts he will ever return to working on man.

Summary

Herbert Spencer invented the term "survival of the fittest". CD used it but found "natural selection" more convenient.

He has often spoken of natural selection’s destruction of individuals which do not come up to "proper standards of structure", which comes to nearly the same thing as RLT’s suggested distinction.

Summary

Thanks for KHvS’s book [La province de Smyrne (1873)].

Discusses possible meeting.

Summary

Is sure mathematical discussion of elevation of continents will be valued by geologists.

Summary

Gives permission for a Spanish translation of the Origin and wishes it success.

Summary

Sends a passage relevant to Pangenesis [on regional accents distinguishable in the speech of those born deaf] from Life, letters, and journals of George Ticknor [ed. G. S. Hillard, vol. 1 (1876)], p. 196.

Tells of the controversy about evolution raging in Dunedin, with clergy playing a prominent part.

Summary

Comments on essays by MW [Das Ausland, May 1875]. Criticises his theory of isolation as source of species change: "But my strongest objection to your theory is that it does not explain the manifold adaptations in structure in every organic being". Believes MW has misunderstood his views: "I believe that all the individuals of a species can be slowly modified within the same district … I do not believe that one species will give birth to two or more new species, as long as they are mingled together within the same district."

Summary

His long experience with propagation of Cytisus and other "sports".