Summary

Thanks LS for his advice and his kind note. When CD thinks how he has been treated he will say to himself "so good a judge as Leslie Stephen thinks nothing of the accusation".

Summary

All his advisers agree that CD ought not to take notice of Butler’s attack.

F. M. Balfour has offered to translate EK’s reply to Butler and to send it to Nature. [The letter was published in Nature 23 (1881): 288.]

Summary

The Darwin family cannot agree on what CD should do about Butler’s charges [in Unconscious memory]. CD has commissioned HEL to ask LS’s advice. She sends an account of the affair with background materials.

Summary

Advises CD to "take no notice of Butler whatever" and gives his reasons.

Summary

The Litchfields and George Darwin think care should be taken that E. Krause’s reply to S. Butler’s Unconscious memory does not appear to be instigated by CD. Suggest it be sent to Popular Science Review, not Athenæum.

Summary

Financial matters; executing EAD’s will; pleased to hear news about Prof. Challis.

Summary

Suggests an errata slip for preface to Erasmus Darwin would correct the inaccurate statement regarding publication of Butler’s Evolution old and new.

Summary

Thanks FGMP for his sympathetic and very kind letter.

Summary

CD is pleased with EK’s account in Kosmos [8 (1880–1): 321–2] of the Buffon and Coleridge passage [cited by Samuel Butler, see 12939, 12969]. Would like a translation published in England, but Butler seeks notoriety and would make unscrupulous use of it. Will ask advice. Thinks EK’s letter to Popular Science Monthly, just received, an excellent reply to Butler.

Summary

Discusses allegation [about Erasmus Darwin] made by Samuel Butler. Will value LS’s verdict highly.

Summary

Has been reading Julius von Wiesner’s book [Das Bewegungsvermögen der Pflanzen (1881)]. Comments that it is "an excellent book, but he vivisects me in the most grievous terms, but most effectively".

Has been experimenting on aggregation of chlorophyll but with little success.

Summary

Asks for two property valuations. Is afraid he has made a mistake in CD’s property settlements.

Summary

Congratulates CD on success of Wallace memorial.

Butler has attacked again.

Summary

On proposed sale of property to CD by Sydney Sales. [The site of the Down House hard tennis court.]

Summary

Further comments on JW’s Das Bewegungsvermögen der Pflanzen [1881]. Discusses heliotropism and sensitivity of root tips. Bewildered by their differences concerning circumnutation.

Summary

Birthday greetings.

Thinks it best not to reply further to Butler. Has read G. J. Romanes’ article with great pleasure. Romanes is right to ridicule Butler. Quotes passages about Butler from CD letters. Has received letter from F. M. Balfour urging him not to reply to Butler.

Summary

Thanks EK for his article [on CD’s Movement in plants].

Admires EK’s wide interest in science. Would like to send him something to publish in Kosmos.

Fears his new book [Earthworms] will hardly do, but will send sheets when printed so that EK can decide whether any chapter or a part of one will serve. Victor Carus’s consent would be needed for publication in Kosmos, and CD will ask for it.

Summary

CD may choose where to publish EK’s reply to Butler. Would prefer Athenæum. Thinks it better that CD not reply himself.

Summary

Declines to provide testimonial for J. C. Ewart, since he has already done so for Lankester. Was also asked by W. C. M’Intosh.

Summary

Says that salt water kills earthworms.

Interested in ERL’s study of worm anatomy.