Summary

Sends CD passages from A. S. Taylor’s book [On poisons in relation to medical jurisprudence and medicine, 2d ed. (1859)], citing smallest portions of poisons that are chemically detectable. "Drosera beats the chemists hollow."

Summary

Explains discrepancies in weights and measures caused by changes since 1836 in apothecaries’ measures.

EC has found that a discrepancy in A. W. von Hofmann’s experiments with iodine solutions resulted from an error in Hofmann’s use of decimals.

Reports S. P. Woodward’s opinion of the Origin: "a very sad book, it unsettles all one’s religious principles and the worst of it is so much of it is true".

Summary

Comments on presentation copy of Orchids: bee Ophrys self-fertilisation; origin of nectar; odour of orchids. Book gives strong cases for special creationists.

Summary

Walter White [Asst.-Sec. and Librarian, Royal Society] has introduced EC to Richard Kippist of the Linnean Society, who has made little progress toward accepting Origin.

Summary

CD’s Linum paper [Collected papers 2: 93–105].

Sending up-to-date railway map of southern region.

Summary

Requests letter of introduction to Asa Gray.

Went to Linnean Society to hear CD’s Lythrum paper read [Collected papers 2: 106–31].

Summary

Impressed by Fritz Müller’s argument for natural selection in air-breathing apparatus of crustaceans ["The Darwinian hypothesis supported by observations on Crustacea", Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 3d ser. 15 (1865): 410–16].

Plans to visit CD.

Summary

Sends Fritz Müller citation as CD requested.

Huxley is boldly proclaiming his Darwinism at Royal Institution ["Methods and results of ethnology", Not. Proc. R. Inst. G. B. 4: 460–3; also Collected essays 7 (1894)].

Summary

Reading Carl Vogt [Lectures on man (1864)].

Vogt, though anti-Lamarck, is converted to Darwinism.

Summary

How did CD handle his sons’ expenses at Cambridge?

Summary

Returns Hooker’s paper [unidentified].

Summary

Sends references to books by Charles Lebrun.

Summary

Congratulations on George’s being Second Wrangler at Cambridge.

Summary

Thanks for loan of Variation. "The Saturday Sadducees" do not believe there are a hundred people who understand the argument. EC fancies he does.

Summary

May go to Paris next summer about barnacles.

Unable to appreciate second volume of Alexander von Humboldt’s Cosmos [1848].

Recommends review by Sir John Herschel [Edinburgh Rev. 87 (1848): 170–229].

Recommends book by Mary Somerville [Physical geography (1848)].

Mentions article [on species] by M. E. Chevreul [Ann. Sci. Nat. (Bot.) 3d ser. 6 (1846): 142–214].

Summary

Has written to William Buckland, recommending EC for position.

Summary

Encloses note from William Buckland [1190], stating that no appointment of surveyor is to be made. Thinks further recommendation would be unwise, but will write to Sir Henry De la Beche and [Robert?] Hutton if EC wishes.

Summary

Will speak to Richard Owen, Henry De la Beche, and Robert Hutton concerning appointment for EC.

Leaving for sea-side on Saturday.

Summary

Declines to canvass for Richard King.

Water-cure has benefited health.

Summary

Says Hooker does not want plant.