Chronicles the events of February, principally of the family and of a few friends: engagements, marriages, deaths, some visits.
News from Maer and Shrewsbury of family, friends, and reports of reactions to CD's first letters.
Sedgwick suggests he look for fossils in gravel banks of rivers.
Fanny Owen is married to R. M. Biddulph. Reform Bill prospects.
Tells of the family's pleasure in reading CD's first two letters and his journal.
Comments on Shrewsbury politics, the cholera, and the family. Sedgwick calls often; Catherine thinks he is interested in Susan.
Account of the four-month voyage to Tierra del Fuego, Cape Horn, and return. The Fuegians are landed with Richard Matthews [the missionary in charge of them]. Storms, seasickness, hostile savages, and scenery are described. His increasing interest in all branches of natural history makes the hardships worth while. FitzRoy buys a schooner. CD will stay at Rio Negro while it is fitted.
Keeling Islands, his first coral lagoons; he has been occupied with subject of coral formation for six months.
Very busy at sea rewriting old geological notes. Has difficulties with writing.
FitzRoy has proposed joint account of the journey, combining CD's journal with his own.
Looks forward with anxiety to Henslow's reaction to the geological notes.
Comments on an article in Edinburgh Review [by David Brewster, 67 (1838): 271-308] on Comte's Philosophie positive.
Discusses falsity of Élie de Beaumont's views of contemporaneous parallel lines of elevation and subsidence.
Owen's views of relationship of reptiles to birds.
On "question of species" CD has filled notebook after notebook with facts, "which begin to group themselves clearly under sub-laws".
Announces his engagement to Emma Wedgwood.
Praises CD's Journal of researches and comments on some of CD's observations and conclusions. Considers volcanic activity and its effect on past climate and changes in climate over time. Discusses glacial phenomena. Believes the climate of the coast of Peru is modified by cold sea-currents.
Sends specimens of a Tertiary sandstone from Tierra del Fuego in which there are leaves; CD thought they were beech. What is JDH's opinion?
Asks whether JDH can make sense of a note on silicified wood.
Has read Vestiges [of creation (1844)]; "his geology strikes me as bad, & his zoology far worse".
Would like to see lists [of plants] from Society and Sandwich Islands.
Doubts JDH's information regarding imagination of mother affecting offspring.
News of his family and his own health. He is able to work three hours a day on the geology of South America.
Harriet Martineau is greatly excited by mesmerism.
Tells of Sydney Smith's dream.
Asks for some [S. American] potatoes to test "sporting".
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