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Forwards pamphlet (Jules Carret 1878) to GHD.

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Thanks for ACR’s Physical geology [5th ed. (1878)]; delighted with its success, proving there is a large body of men in England capable of appreciating sound geological science.

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Thanks for account of Fuegians

and news about old "Beaglers".

Has been reading A. A. Brassey [Around the world in the yacht "Sunbeam" (1878)].

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Delighted with [William Thomson’s] report. "There can be no doubt now about the value of your work." CD has "not been so much pleased for a long time".

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Sends thanks [for election to Prussian Academy of Sciences].

Appreciates the copy of address [Darwin versus Galiani (1876)].

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A memorial signed by CD and many others, calling upon the Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, to convene Parliament to discuss the ultimatum addressed to the Amir of Afghanistan, Sher Ali Khan, by the Viceroy of India, E. R. Bulwer-Lytton.

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CD hopes GAG is right [see 11744]. His second law seems largely acted on in civilised societies. Evil that would follow from checking benevolence to weak and diseased would be greater than by allowing them to survive and procreate. CD doubts that artificial checks would be advantageous to the world at large. If birth could be prevented, and control were not thought immoral, "would there not be a danger of profligacy amongst unmarried women?"

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Invites RM to luncheon.

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Glad to join Association of Liberal Thinkers and to pay usual subscription. Refuses any office and does not allow his name to be used to promote the association because neither his health nor his mental habits will allow him to take an active part.

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CD will visit tomorrow.

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Invites [WKP] to lunch.

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CD hopes his book [Movement in plants] will be worth the effort WTT-D has put into getting plants for him; fears he has achieved little.

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Instructs FD to make some observations on movement in Trifolium and Impatiens. Sends some seeds to be sown.

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Suggests experiment to detect salts deposited on surface of leaves.

Wants FD to have another go at horse-chestnut radicles.

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Asks whether he may call to discuss a chemico-physiological point.

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CD sends his preface [to RM’s translation of August Weismann, Studies in the theory of descent (1882); Collected papers 2: 280–1].

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Regrets he cannot compare his work with Weismann’s in his preface as he feels “an author is never a fit judge of his own work”. [Appended note explains that RM wished CD’s work to be fully acknowledged, which was frequently not the case in continental writings.]

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Discusses views of Moritz Wagner on modification of species. Two different cases: one in which a species is modified in the same country and cases in which a species splits. Glad CGS is taking up subject.

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Thanks for HNM’s offer to dedicate book [Notes by a naturalist on the "Challenger" (1879)].

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CD disappointed in Pusey’s sermon against evolution [Un-science, not science, adverse to faith (1878), sermon read by H. P. Liddon at St Mary’s, Oxford, on 3 Nov 1878]. Does not agree that religion and science can be kept as distant as Pusey desires. Geology and biology must deal with history of earth and of man. But that is no reason for bitter hostility.