Summary

Sends WED a bank draft.

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Discusses matters relating to WED’s first term [at Cambridge].

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Arrangements to meet JSH at station for his visit to Down.

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Reports on difference between first and second plantings of beans.

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Thanks JE for information about striped horses.

Says John Lindley wants to know about Hungarian horticulture.

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Replies to CD’s question on whether beans in first or second year were planted near any other varieties.

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Refers to CD’s article "Fertilisation of papilionaceous flowers" in Gardeners’ Chronicle [Collected papers 2: 19–25] and asks how forced beans flower in winter when no insect is on the wing.

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Thanks WAL for specimens and observations [on scarlet runner beans]. CD is perplexed whether to account for the changes as due to simple variation or to crossing. The information will be used when he finally comes to a conclusion on the subject [see Cross and self-fertilisation, p. 151].

Summary

Thanks for HS’s Essays: [scientific, political, and speculative, vol. 1 (1858)]. Admires his general argument for the development theory.

CD is preparing an abstract on change of species. He treats subject as a naturalist, not from a general point of view. Otherwise he might have quoted HS’s argument to great advantage.

CD particularly liked articles on music and style. Expression is a favourite topic with CD. Agrees all expression is biological.

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Wishes to know whether differences in constitution (such as disease susceptibility) are related to differences in complexion. "Liability to such a disease as yellow fever would answer my question in the best possible way."

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Thanks RMR for contribution to Down charities. Declines invitation.

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Asks about dark stripes on shoulders and legs of Hungarian horses. Are stripes plainer in foal or adult?

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Sends an account of different colours and shapes of seeds raised from ordinary seeds of scarlet runner. [See Cross and self-fertilisation, p. 151.]

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"I thank you much for your note. The object, of course, is what you say. I did not guess that I shd have to pay so much per hen to Baker & the experiment would not be at all worth such a sum. I have not a single hen worth sending to Steven’s. If it really will not cost you much trouble, & you could get me some Hens & a young Spanish cock of pure breed . . . I will try to experiment and shall be very heartily obliged to you". CD mentions satisfactory local hens of a particular breed and an experiment being conducted on "Silver Barbs [with] black wing bars & white rump or bar at end of tail".

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Praise for abstract of JL’s paper on insects ["On the ova and pseudova of insects", Proc. R. Soc. Lond. 9 (1857–9): 574–83].

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Hooker has convinced him that move of British Museum by Government is anticipated. He is now willing to sign the memorial. Still fears for library needs, and objects to distant Kensington site. Lyell should be asked to sign.

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CD declines to write Lyell éloge [for Copley Medal] because of his ill health.

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Wants WBT’s advice on poultry breeding experiments. Are certain birds true to their kind, and what should he pay for them?

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At work on the introductory essay to Flora Tasmaniae.

Discusses the effects of climate and geography on "vegetable strife".

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Memorial concerning British Museum collection.

Relation of Cape of Good Hope and Australian flora a great trouble. CD’s high estimation of importance of glacial period for distribution.