Summary

Acknowledges JS’s excellent letter of 25 September. May CD assume that the gigantic worm-casts were nearly circular when measured before the rain?

That a medical man should always have the place of superintendent seems a piece of jobbery.

Mentions [George] King.

JS’s thin paper renders some words on other side almost illegible.

Summary

Queries and suggestions for arrangements about foreign editions of Expression.

CD must see proofs for lettering on the plates [for Expression] to ensure that it matches the text.

Summary

Defends Descent against CD’s self-disparagement. The parts on the moral sense seem to him the finest in the book.

Summary

Has finished Expression.

His strength fails more and more; needs to rest every six weeks or so.

Summary

Discusses printing of Expression.

Summary

Worm-casts on a ridged hill.

Summary

Encloses a letter to Nature [see 8448] correcting Dr Bree, who has accused ARW of "blundering". ARW should tear up CD’s letter if he does not like it or plans to reply himself.

Summary

Encloses a testimonial for AG [in support of his application for a promotion at British Museum].

Does he agree with Carl Gegenbaur’s paper on the limbs of fish [Jenaische Z. Naturwiss. 5 (1870): 397–447]?

Asks what caused G. R. Gray’s sudden death.

Summary

Thanks for 3rd edition of ACR’s Physical geology and geography of Great Britain (A. C. Ramsay 1872).

Summary

Accepts CD’s proposal for new revised edition of Origin; will pay $50 [dollars or pounds!?] for casts of the plates and pay CD on sales.

Appleton edition of CD’s Journal of researches [1871] still selling well.

Also wants plates sent with CD’s new work on Expression. CD should arrange this with Murray’s.

Summary

Discusses distribution of presentation copies of Expression. Sends instructions for mailing his copies. Discusses negotiations with C. Reinwald concerning French edition. Suggests journals to receive review copies.

Summary

Orders books: J. R. Leifchild, The higher ministry of nature (1872);

Hermann Müller, The application of the Darwinian theory to flowers [(1872?), reprint from Am. Nat. 5 (1871): 271–97];

and a review by J. B. Hunter.

Summary

Thanks GHD for extracts, but says the subject of music is beyond him.

Suggests that GHD deliberate over one or two sentences of his paper on dress ["Developments in dress", Macmillan’s Mag. 22 (1872): 410–16].

Refers to prospective marriage of Amy [Ruck and CD’s son Francis].

Summary

Discusses the coiling of tendrils of climbing plants.

AG’s recent tour of the U. S.

Summary

Comments on additional printing of Expression. Complains about poor quality of plates.

Summary

Arrangements for the plates for Expression and charges to be made for them to foreign editors.

Summary

Asks whether he may have the sheets of Expression to produce a Russian edition.

Summary

Received copy of Origin 6th ed. Has had trouble with worm measurements at Winchester.

Summary

Thanks for Expression.

Has lost a year’s work in the fire that has devastated Boston.

Summary

Suggests a visit to Kew to see the hot houses the following Sunday.