Summary

Continues to improve, but water-cure has produced "indolence and stagnation of mind".

Summary

Continues water-cure treatment at home and must do so for a year. Considers himself absolutely cured.

Summary

Account of the birth of Leonard Darwin, during which he administered the chloroform to Emma.

Continues the water-cure.

Has begun work on fossil cirripedes.

Summary

Describes his appointment, the Beagle, his companions, and the objectives of the voyage. Gives his schedule before departure.

Summary

Details of his continuing water-cure regimen.

Summary

Has heard that Louis Agassiz maintains the doctrine of several species of man "much I daresay to the comfort of the slave-holding southerners".

Homeopathy excites his wrath even more than clairvoyance.

Summary

Is concerned about the education of his boys and is undecided between Rugby and Bruce Castle schools; is inclined toward the latter, but afraid to experiment on so important a subject.

Reports on his pear-trees.

Summary

Would much like to see Dr Birchfield appointed superintendent of the new asylum at Woking.

Summary

The potato seeds were collected in 1835 from tubers in a remote area of the Cordilleras of Chile and were certainly wild. Refers him to Journal [of researches, p. 347].

Summary

Sends date of his mother’s death – 7 Apr 1859.

Was completely mystified by conjuring performance of [John Nevil] Maskelyne.

Summary

Sends condolences to WDF on the death of his father. Has brought his daughter [Anne] to J. M. Gully for the water-cure.

Summary

His favourite child, Anne, has unexpectedly died.

Summary

Congratulates and "condoles" with WDF on a tenth child.

On education, he has not had courage to break away from "the old stereotyped stupid classical education"; has sent William to Rugby.

The first Ray Society volume [Living Cirripedia] is finished.

Has joined in a society to prosecute violators of the act against use of children in climbing chimneys.

Summary

News of his health; has been well of late, but cannot stand excitement. Hereditary weakness is another of his bugbears.

At work on cirripedes – "I hate a Barnacle as no man ever did before."

Summary

Still delayed; will not sail until 5 December. Instructions have come, with proposed itinerary.

Summary

Discusses education of his sons. Would like to see more diversity.

He is pleased that Richard Owen and others had a good opinion of his first volume [on Living Cirripedia].

Summary

Discusses Rugby and education in general. The enormous proportion of time spent on classics checks interest "in anything in which reasoning & observation comes into play".

Expresses shock and sympathy on learning of the deaths in WDF’s house.

Summary

Sympathises with WDF’s tribulations.

Summary

Thanks WDF for writing so soon after his misfortunes, and again expresses sympathy.

Summary

Is trying to procure some cocks for CD.

Believes Scotch deerhounds are mongrels.