Summary

Thanks correspondent for a gift of books.

Summary

Sends his book [Naturwissenschaftliche Thatsachen und Probleme. Populäre Vorträge (1880)].

Anxious to receive Movement in plants because CD’s methods may be applicable to his experiments on the earliest movements of animal embryos.

Summary

Writes of a Mrs Noel, who is annoyed with CD’s neglect of Erasmus Darwin’s brother, W[illiam] A[lvey] D[arwin I], [in Erasmus Darwin].

Summary

Will soon manage to go to Beaulieu. Is glad the book is going off well. Is thinking of going to the Roman Villa at Brading on the Isle of Wight.

Summary

The Colonel [J. L. Chester] is pleased [see 12509].

Jos[iah Wedgwood III] is dying.

Summary

Description of remains of a Roman villa and the worm activity at the site.

Summary

Greatly relieved by THH’s letter [advising against a reply to Samuel Butler].

Summary

Thanks HWC and the Birmingham Philosophical Society for their address in his honour.

Summary

Would be glad to see RLT at Down if he thinks it fit to come there to deliver the address honouring CD.

Summary

Praise for Movement in plants, lately arrived.

Praise for Wallace’s Island life

and astonishment that he could be a spiritualist.

Differs with Wallace on age of SW. Australian flora. JDH ascribes its peculiarities to isolation by an inland sea.

Summary

Thanks RBL for advice [concerning dispute with Samuel Butler]. Notes reaction of family.

Summary

Forwards, on behalf of the Birmingham Philosophical Society, an address offering CD the first honorary membership of the Society. Encloses formal record of this meeting.

Summary

Asks CD for reference to the edition of Kosmos that contains the original of Ernst Krause’s article on Dr Erasmus Darwin. There are serious differences between the translation by W. S. Dallas and the Feb [1879] article by Krause on which CD, in the preface to Erasmus Darwin, says it was based. SB notes in particular that the concluding sentence of the translation, which is clearly aimed at [SB’s] Evolution, old and new, is not in the original. Since readers will assume the text of Erasmus Darwin was written before his book appeared, SB asks for an explanation.

Summary

Sends birthday wishes.

Discusses work on Medusae.

Recalls visit to Down.

Summary

Replies to CD’s questions about worms at Abinger ruins.

Summary

Going to London today to speak to T. H. Farrer about funds for potato breeding experiments. "I have told Farrer I would subscribe £50."

Summary

Sends some questions raised by THF’s notes on earthworms at Abinger; he plans to use them in his book.

Summary

Is honoured by RLT’s announcement, and offers a contribution to the Birmingham scientific fund.

Summary

Asks JM to provide Quarterly Journal of Science with five woodcuts from Climbing plants to illustrate an article, based on that work, by Francis Darwin [see 12462].

Summary

Sends the marked plans of the Abinger Hall excavation site.