Summary

Published as an appendix to vol. 2 of the Correspondence; see https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/tags/about-darwin/family-life/darwin-marriage. Considers his options for the future. Debates marriage and the best place to live. Feels the need for experiment and direct observation which would be difficult living in London; he "could not go on as Lyell does correcting & adding up new information to old train".

Summary

Published as an appendix to vol. 2 of the Correspondence; see https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/tags/about-darwin/family-life/darwin-marriage. Debates with himself the pros and cons of marriage. Considers plans for future.

Summary

Asks correspondent if he would prefer the President’s signature alone or with those of other scientific men.

Summary

Seeks permission to make another visit to Addiscombe [Military College] to see again the model of St Helena. He needs to correct proportion of some geological sections in his Geology [see Volcanic islands, ch. 4].

Summary

Discusses the geology of volcanic islands.

Summary

CD is much obliged for invitations to CB’s parties, but is afraid to accept because he would meet people to whom he has sworn he never goes out.

Summary

Asks Babbage to take small parcel to Henslow.

Summary

Questions on breeding and habits.

Summary

Would like to call upon RO to discuss the last engravings sent by George Scharf. CD assumes that the revise of Toxodon [see 395] was received.

Summary

Sends rock specimen for W. H. Miller. Asks JSH to see whether there is any geology in P. B. Webb and Sabin Berthelot, Histoire naturelle des Îles Canaries [1835–50]. Finds his work on geology growing so large that it will take more than one volume and asks whether this will make publication aid more difficult.

Has accepted Secretaryship of the Geological Society.

Will not come to Cambridge because "as long as I continue well I cannot bear to leave my work for half a day".

Summary

The publishers [of Zoology] have agreed to 50 plates [for Birds]. Asks JG to decide which are most worthy of being done. Also asks him to see whether Bayfield will undertake [to colour] the birds (and quadrupeds) at something under 5d each.

Summary

Encloses the account of Smith, Elder & Co. for the first part of "The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle" [Fossil Mammalia].

Summary

Testifies to the courtesy and helpfulness of George Gray [assistant at the British Museum]. [See 402b.]

Summary

Declines Ray Club dinner; too busy with Zoology.

Thanks JSH for presenting his work to Cambridge Philosophical Society.

Asks him to get an answer from W. H. Miller on specimen of crystallised mineral.

Summary

FitzRoy is hard at work on his book [Narrative, vol. 2].

CD’s health is improved.

Describes his visit to zoo.

Gives news of E. A. Darwin and Harriet Martineau.

Summary

Gives best wishes for Gould’s trip to Australia.

Notes on Synallaxis behaviour.

Summary

Thanks for ham and corrections in spelling. Gives account of his social activities in past week.

Summary

Treasures recollections of old friends but seldom sees any. Has turned "a complete scribbler".

His scientific activities.

No wife in sight so far.

Summary

Returns his paper for publication ["Volcanic phenomena in South America" (1840), Collected papers 1: 53–86].

Summary

Recounts dinner at Erasmus’ house with Harriet Martineau and others, and a visit to Cambridge to stay with Henslow and meet old friends again.