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

Butler’s reply to EK is a renewed attack on CD. Urges EK not to answer it. His last letter contains everything necessary. Asks EK for dates of CD’s letter asking EK’s permission to publish a translation of his article [on Erasmus Darwin] and of the letter in which he told EK that Butler’s book had been advertised.

Summary

Has written to Balfour concerning the Butler affair.

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

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

Publication of Earthworms delayed, but will send sheets to EK when he receives them [so that he can decide about publishing extracts in Kosmos].

Thanks for "Die Gegenwart".

"’Instinct’ of plants" is a most puzzling problem.

Does not see how mind can be defined "if we subtract consciousness".

Summary

Encloses reply to Butler [Kosmos 8 (1881): 321–2]. Has also written a reply intended for English reader. Will have it translated for Popular Science Review if CD thinks suitable.

Report of Jäger accident was an error.

Kosmos has been purchased by Eduard Koch in Stuttgart and will continue as in the past.

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

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

Summary

Sends copy of Nature in which EK’s letter, translated by Balfour, is printed. Thanks him. Now feels easy.

G. J. Romanes’ language in his review of Butler’s book [Unconscious memory] is perhaps too strong. Butler’s vanity is a "real psychological curiosity".

Summary

Sends his review of Movement in plants from Die Gartenlaube.

Comments on the future prospects of Kosmos.

Comments on review of Samuel Butler’s Unconscious memory by Romanes in Nature [23 (1880–1): 285–7] and Romanes’ reply to Butler [pp. 335–6].

Asks whether he might have a chapter of Earthworms to print in Kosmos.

Summary

Ernst Krause wishes to publish a section of Earthworms in Kosmos. CD has consented. Hopes JVC will not object. He feels under obligation to Krause.

Summary

Thanks FMB for translation of Ernst Krause’s letter for Nature.

Summary

CD will soon finish corrections [of Earthworms] for printer, and then clean sheets will be sent to JVC for translation of the book and to Ernst Krause. The subject has been a "hobby-horse" with CD, and he has perhaps treated it in foolish detail. Has told Krause he does not think any part of the MS suitable for Kosmos, but Krause must decide.

Summary

Asks FMB to translate letter from Ernst Krause [answering criticisms by Samuel Butler] and to send it to Nature [ "Unconscious memory – Mr Samuel Butler" 23 (1881): 288].

Summary

Has read with interest GJR’s review [of Samuel Butler, Unconscious memory (1880)] in Nature [23 (1880–1): 285–7]. Heroic of GJR to call down [Butler’s] revenge on his own head. Ernst Krause’s letter [Nature 23 (1880–1): 288] very good.

As magistrate, CD must enforce rules regarding infection in pigs.

Summary

Discusses Ernst Krause’s publication of an extract from Earthworms translated into German in the journal Kosmos.

Summary

Koch [of Schweizerbart, publisher of CD’s works in Germany and also publisher of Kosmos] has asked JVC to translate Earthworms and send one chapter of it to Kosmos for advance separate publication. He thinks a chapter on the practical work of the earthworms would be most interesting to the general reader.

Summary

Seeks R. B. Litchfield’s advice about publishing a translation of a letter and article by E. Krause [answering Samuel Butler’s Unconscious memory].

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.