Summary

Thanks for agreeing to write the preface for RM’s translation of Weismann.

Will arrange to meet CD when he comes to London.

Summary

Forwards pamphlet (Jules Carret 1878) to GHD.

Summary

Encloses a letter [missing] on the progress of the Fuegians.

His eldest son has married.

Summary

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.

Summary

Thanks for account of Fuegians

and news about old "Beaglers".

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

Summary

Acknowledges receipt of French translation of Forms of flowers. "No one more than you has made us feel the beauties of Creation and made us enter more profoundly into the secrets of nature."

Summary

Encloses William Thomson’s report on GHD’s paper. Some of it was written in Rayleigh’s hand.

Summary

Explains the occurrence of cattle on the Fuegian islands.

Discusses intentions with regard to missionary stations and steamers in the area.

Summary

CD elected foreign associate of the Royal Academy of Sciences [K. Preussische Akademie der Wissenschaften].

EdB-R’s paper will be available in English in the New York periodical, Popular Science Monthly, and he hopes CD will read it. [See 11742 and 11842.]

Summary

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".

Summary

Has observed rare instances of Ophrys apifera with "cut labellum". Suggests it was done by large dragonfly mistaking the flower for a fly visiting a flower. Stimulated to study Ophrys by Orchids.

Summary

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

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

Summary

Describes the change in shape of a worm over a candle-flame.

Summary

Discusses three "laws of race preservation" which are evolving: (1) natural selection; (2) the sociological law of sympathetic selection, or indiscriminate survival; (3) moral law – social selection or the "Birth of the Fittest".

Summary

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.

Summary

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?"

Summary

Invites CD to join the Association of Liberal Thinkers and encloses information on its constitution. Huxley and Tyndall are co-operating.

Summary

Discusses colour variations in the geometer moth, Gnophos obscurata. Concludes that the increasing proportion of the darker form is related to the effect of smoke that is blackening the chalk slopes on which they live.

Summary

Invites RM to luncheon.

Summary

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.