Summary

Sends address of A. R. Wallace. Comments on Wallace’s pension.

Summary

On land migration of plants. The case in Nature is striking but CD doubts that seeds of plants could be blown from mountains of Abyssinia to mountains of Madagascar.

Summary

Will order Progress and poverty. Comments on ARW’s political interests and his own absorption in W. Graham’s The creed of science.

His sojourn at Ullswater: "life has become very wearisome to me".

Summary

Further information about the pension with particular thanks to CD for his role.

Summary

On the proprieties of thanking Gladstone and the signers of the memorial.

Summary

At Mrs Lyell’s request, passes on a spare copy of K. M. Lyell ed. 1881.

Summary

ARW’s view of migration of plants from mountain to mountain gains support from case described in Nature [23 (1880): 125–6] by J. G. Baker. Identical species of alpine plants found in African mountains and Madagascar.

Summary

Appreciation of CD’s efforts in recommending him for pension. Asks about proprieties of thanking Gladstone and the signers of the memorial.

Summary

Thanks for book [Earthworms]. Asks whether leaf-mould is not formed by decay as well as by the agency of worms.

Summary

Informs ARW of favourable reception by Gladstone of memorial respecting ARW’s services to science, and the establishment of a pension for him.

Summary

Enthusiasm for Henry George’s Progress and poverty. Considers it to rank with Adam Smith’s work. His own work on the land question [Land nationalisation (1882)].

Summary

Island life continues to stimulate: Wallace ignores effects of glaciers on alpine flora and generally exaggerates those of débâcles and wind dispersal. CD encourages JDH to prepare a geographical address including history of geographical distribution.

Summary

Success of the memorial for Wallace. Sends letter from Gladstone.

Congratulates THH on appointment as Inspector of Fisheries.

Summary

Discusses investments,

earthworms,

and an article by Romanes [see 13029].

Summary

[Ernst Krause’s] letter to Nature ["Unconscious memory – Mr Samuel Butler", 23 (1881): 288] has been dispatched.

Gladstone has dated Wallace’s pension from last July, "which is splendid".

Summary

Thanks GA for his article ["The daisy’s pedigree", Cornhill Mag. 44 (1881): 168–81].

The evolutionary argument that petals are transformed stamens is "striking and apparently valid". Doubts petals are naturally yellow.

Wallace’s "generalization about much modified parts being splendidly coloured" is also dubious except as both are caused by sexual selection.

Summary

Responds to JDH on history of plant geography.

Opinion of Humboldt.

Origin of higher phanerogams.

Importance of the occurrence of south temperate forms in the Northern Hemisphere.

Summary

Gladstone has recommended yearly pension of £200 for Wallace.

Summary

Good news from Gladstone [concerning pension for Wallace]. Duke of Argyll’s private note greatly influenced Gladstone.

Summary

Alarm over Wallace’s memorial; asks HWB if he has received it and forwarded it to Hooker. Wanted to get it to Gladstone before Parliament met.