Summary

Has been asked to contribute to W. K. Clifford memorial fund. Asks JT’s advice on how much the committee hopes to raise. Would like to give handsomely but feels bound "with such a lot of children, not to be extravagant".

Summary

Sends £600 bequeathed by Susan Darwin to CD’s younger children.

Summary

CD has learned from Lyell that JDH reviewed Origin in Gardeners’ Chronicle writing in Lindley’s style.

Lyell is working on man.

Summary

Encloses a cheque for £11.5.0 for subscriptions from CD and members of his family.

Summary

Wants CD to sign an enclosure [missing] and get the signatures of other family members.

Summary

On Lubbock’s plans.

Visited by Antoine Auguste Laugel.

Guessed right on Bentham’s "Planchon".

Much struck by Thomson’s article on nomenclature [see 4812]; importance of this subject.

Sorry best scientists read so little; few read any long papers.

Summary

Details of new will. 12/74ths to each son and 7/74ths to each daughter.

Summary

Has taken almost all FD’s corrections for chapter six [of Earthworms]. Is glad FD approves of the book.

Summary

Measles has ben running through the house, but they are now quit of it.

Discusses plans for JSH to visit; eager to discuss Origin.

Summary

Invites CD and Emma to dine.

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

Discusses domestic affairs.

Is working at the abstract of his book [Origin].

Asks WED to examine birds’ feet for dirt sticking to them, as this may represent a means of seed dispersal across seas.

Summary

Writes of WED’s progress at school and events at home.

Discusses pigeons, with which he is "getting on splendidly".

Summary

Is deeply gratified by AR’s proposed generosity.

Summary

Thanks CD for R. W. Darwin’s memoranda respecting Franklin. Would be grateful for copies of any Franklin letters that exist among Dr Darwin’s papers.

Summary

Revision of CD’s will to reflect Anthony Rich’s gift and to increase daughters’ inheritance.

Summary

Response to ARW’s papers on Papilionidae ["On the phenomena of variation and geographical distribution", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 25 (1866): 1–71; abstract in Reader 3 (1864): 491–3],

and man ["The origin of human races", J. Anthropol. Soc. Lond. 2 (1864): clviii–clxxxvi].

The former is "really admirable" and will be influential.

The idea of the man paper is striking and new. Minor points of difference. Conjectures regarding racial differences; the possible correlation between complexion and constitution. His Query to Army surgeons to determine this point. Offers ARW his notes on man, which CD doubts he will be able to use.

On sexual selection in "our aristocracy"; primogeniture is a scheme for destroying natural selection.

[Letter incorrectly dated March by CD.]

Summary

Some papers have arrived for FD.

Comments on the work of Phillipe van Tieghem who evidently knows nothing of insectivorous plants.

Leslie Stephen’s visit to Down went off well.

Summary

Send CD a present of a fur coat.

Summary

Circular letter regarding the distribution of CD’s excess income, with a note addressed to W. E. Darwin concerning his handling of Elizabeth Darwin’s share.