Summary

Thanks EK for Julius Dub’s work [see 6961].

Has sent the new [5th] edition of Origin to Carus.

Summary

Discusses dimorphic and trimorphic plants; mentions especially Rubiaceae and a dimorphic monocotyledon.

Notes observations on the monstrous male flowers of Begonia,

and on self-sterile plants.

Summary

Has forwarded the horse’s tooth, sent by JO, to Huxley, who may be able to identify it.

Summary

Encloses a few additions [missing] for new [4th] German edition of Origin

and a new application to publish translation of [Descent].

Summary

Asks CD to send 5th ed. of Origin so Mlle Royer can use it in her work. Regret they have upset CD to the extent that he would reproach them so untowardly.

Summary

Discusses views of Wallace, H. N. Moseley, and Croll on the mechanics of glacier movement.

Comments on Wallace’s new book [The Malay Archipelago (1869)].

Summary

Progressing with translation of new footnotes for Orchids. Asks for help with a few words.

Summary

Gives account of inherited blindness in a family,

and observations contravening CD’s view in Variation that sheep and other domestic animals never run wild.

Summary

There is no hurry for information. Delighted that FCD is making experiments.

It was a sincere pleasure to make FCD’s acquaintance.

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

Admires GJ’s book [Die Darwin’sche Theorie (1869)].

Asks about plumage of rejected male pheasant.

Summary

Thanks CD for his kind offer [of translation rights for Descent].

Feels it a duty to make CD’s "way of looking to fields [recte facts] under the guidance of ideas" known to his countrymen, especially since zoologists and physiologists seem to think science is nothing but the accumulation of facts and have almost forgotten to reason about them.

Explains that, contrary to Carl Vogt’s report to CD, he continues as Professor of Comparative Anatomy at Leipzig, but he has failed to get the place of the late Professor of Zoology, as he had hoped.

Summary

Sends copy of C. J. Dub [Kurze Darstellung der Lehre Darwin’s über die Entstehung der Organismen (1870)].

Asks about appearance of CD’s next book.

Comments on the Duke of Argyll’s Primeval man [1869].

New [4th] German edition of Origin to appear soon.

Summary

Would like Frederick Smith of the British Museum to determine whether or not some unidentified Westphalian bees are new species.

Summary

Has received letter from Appleton’s that they agree to reprint from the latest edition of the Origin [5th English] and will add corrections sent by CD.

They wish also to receive early sheets of new book [Descent] on which they will pay £10.

Will send cheque for sales of Origin, based on older agreement between Appleton’s and Asa Gray to pay CD 5%.

Summary

In answer to CD’s queries, relates further details about feral sheep: they are sterile when wild, but can become tame again.

Summary

Will come to Down on 25 Sept.

Thanks CD for supplementaries ["Fertilization of orchids", Collected papers 2: 138–56] which he will quote in the British flora [The student’s flora of the British Islands (1870)].

F. A. W. Miquel could not come.

Summary

Sends a lower molar of fossil horse from Quito. Curious as to its species, especially in view of Owen’s findings in Mexico.

Summary

His book [Descent] will not be ready for a year because of his health and the laboriousness of work on sexual selection. Has deferred arrangements for German translation, but would feel secure with JVC. Carl Vogt has offered to translate it.

Summary

Asks for DF’s observations on the Aymara Indians for use in writing manuscript [see Descent, 2d ed., pp. 34–5].