Summary

Has read WEG’s article ["The colour sense", Nineteenth Century 2 (1877): 366–88] on H. Magnus’ view. Informs him of a criticism of this view and reply by Magnus in Kosmos. Offers to send the article.

CD has contributed some facts on the difficulty children have in distinguishing colours (or naming them correctly).

Summary

Accepts CD’s offer to send numbers of Kosmos.

WEG thinks the evidence from Homer’s text is conclusive that his "discrimination of colour was as defective as his sense of form and of motion was exact and lively".

Summary

Sends WEG the two articles [see 11163] with references.

CD thinks savages do not have names for shades of colours, which is curious since those he has known have names for every slight promontory or hill.

Summary

Sends CD his collection of Homeric epithets on motion, which "indicate ideas of motion more precise and scientifically adjusted than … any other author".

Summary

Thanks WEG for his essay showing how Homer distinguished between different kinds of movement.

Summary

Supporting the abolition of clerical headships and fellowships at Oxford and Cambridge.

Summary

Covering letter to enclose a memorial [petitioning for a civil list pension for Wallace].

Summary

He will recommend a pension of £200 a year for Wallace.

Summary

CD expresses his great pleasure at WEG’s letter informing him that Wallace has been granted a pension.

Summary

CD is invited to allow his name to be suggested for the vacancy in the Trust of the British Museum caused by the death of Lord Beaconsfield. [See 13142.]

Summary

CD declines an invitation to be a trustee [of British Museum] because his strength is insufficient to permit regular attendance at meetings.

Summary

Memorial to the Chancellor of the Exchequer from the fellows of the Royal, Linnean, Geological, and Zoological Societies of London, stating the importance of separating the administration of the national natural history collections of the British Museum from that of the library and art collections, and placing it in the hands of one officer, immediately responsible to one of the Queen’s ministers.

Summary

Encloses a memorial concerning the Botanical Gardens at Kew signed by ‘some of our most eminent scientific men’ (including CD).

Summary

RC [President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh] objects to government interference with Hooker’s authority as Director of Kew; mentions CD’s name in support.

Summary

Encourages the government to keep the herbarium and library of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.