The year is conjectured from the fact that this draft is written on the back of a sheet from the revised fair copy of Cross and self fertilisation, which was completed in October 1876 (Correspondence vol. 24, CD’s ‘Journal’ (Appendix II)), and from the date of the Customs, Inland Revenue, and Savings Banks Act, 1877 (see n. 3 below).

CD was treasurer of the Down Friendly Society.

The trustees of the Down Friendly Society were CD, Charles Pearson, and John Brodie Innes (Correspondence vol. 24, letter to J. M. F. Ludlow, 11 February 1876). Since Innes lived in Scotland, CD probably refers to Pearson. The regulations governing Friendly Societies had been revised by the Friendly Societies Act of 1875, but some later amendments, including one relating to the Post Office and to the national debt commissioners, were made in the Customs, Inland Revenue, and Savings Banks Act of 1877. Subscriptions paid by Friendly Society members were deposited with the Post Office Savings Bank and then transferred to the national debt commissioners, who paid the interest earned (ODNB s.v. Sikes, Charles William).