Summary

Thanks JL for copy of Die Religionen [1881].

Summary

Thanks for work sent by GdeS and A. F. Marion [L’évolution du règne végétal 1 (1881)]. CD greatly pleased at boldness with which GdeS expresses his belief in evolution. Some of GdeS’s countrymen have been "a little timid" on this head.

Summary

CD declines an invitation to be a trustee [of British Museum] because his strength is insufficient to permit regular attendance at meetings.

Summary

CD made an associate member of the Royal Belgian Botanical Society.

Summary

Introduces Capt. George Montague Wheeler of the US Engineers, who has charge of the government expedition west of the 100th meridian.

Summary

Discusses his investments.

P.S. on earthworms.

Summary

Responds to comments on geology of Florida.

Discusses coral reefs and paper by John Murray ["On the structure and origin of coral reefs and islands", Proc. R. Soc. Edinburgh 10 (1880): 505–18].

Comments on AA’s paper ["Paleontological and embryological development", Proc. Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci. 29 (1880): 389–414].

Summary

Passage in first edition of Origin, [p. 184] on bears rendered larger and more aquatic by selection was omitted from subsequent editions on advice of Richard Owen. Has always regretted following that advice.

Summary

Sends a copy of his dissertation on the germination of the Cucurbitaceae.

Summary

Mr Coleman has retired. FE can see CD and can arrange for administering the gas.

Summary

Discusses possible investments.

Summary

Wants a Clematis identified. Has been observing how earthworms drag down its petioles.

Summary

Asks for return of letter from J. P. Bishop about hair turning grey at an early age in three generations.

Summary

Aware that AH thinks CD has done nothing to advance the good cause of the descent theory.

Obliged for gift of AH’s [Tertiary species of Planorbis at Steinheim (1880)].

Summary

Sends autograph. Hopes collecting will lead Bok to science, as it did him.

Summary

Thanks for letter expressing CD’s position with regard to experiments on living animals and for getting the letter printed in the Times [18 Apr 1881, Collected papers 2: 226–7].

Summary

Thanks for WTT-D’s attempts to get the Trifolium seeds.

Summary

Thanks for DM’s [Zoological atlas (1881)].

Summary

Copies of FD’s paper have arrived ["The theory of growth", J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 18 (1881): 406–19]. Does he want them dispatched?