Summary

Herbert Spencer, though not the scientific thinker he sees himself to be, was extremely important in conditioning the generation’s acceptance of evolution. Compares Spencer and Robert Chambers as teachers, rather than discoverers, of new ideas.

Summary

Thanks for AG’s trouble about the seeds. Is curious to see their germination and the early seedling growth.

Asks for cotton seeds, as he observes odd movements of the cotyledon.

Summary

On Wallace’s need for a regular income. He has been rejected as Superintendent of Epping Forest. Thinks men such as Lubbock, Hooker, and CD might help.

Summary

Hearty thanks for the two bottles of pure water.

Summary

H. N. Moseley says [in "Notes on plants collected and observed at the Admiralty Islands", J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 15 (1877): 77] pigeons eject seeds in fit state for germination. He regards pigeons as providing most efficient means of transport in Malayan Archipelago.

CD’s collected notes on geographical distribution would make a good book.

Summary

Frank [Darwin] has found a Trifolium remarkable for "bloom", but it was not in flower. If GHD knows where it grows, could he dig up the whole plant?

Summary

Thanks WTT-D for Drosophyllum seeds.

Summary

Asks whether canary grass and oats have chlorophyll in their cotyledons.

Has been working hard at circumnutation of leaves to see whether sleep movements are exaggerated circumnutation.

Summary

Will not sign a petition, for he feels vivisection is essential to the progress of physiology.

Summary

Has found no [potato] variety whose foliage can resist the parasite, except when grown under glass.

Summary

Requests some seeds.

Believes the leaves of Phyllanthus sleep like those of Cassia.

Summary

Discusses A. B. Frank’s views [Beiträge zur Pflanzenphysiologie (1868)] on how plants position themselves; differences and similarities compared with their own conclusions.

Summary

Thanks AG for his kind note and returns his good wishes.

Summary

A young disciple wishes to know if reports of people with tails in New Guinea could be true.

Summary

Mentions wheat varieties sent by Governor General of Turkestan.

Summary

Fears that the promised bottle of pure water may have been despatched or stolen in passage. [See 11768a.]

Summary

Young Austrian woman asks for CD’s autograph.

Summary

A supporter of "the presumptive connection between socialism and evolution through natural selection" sends essays of Carl Vogt and requests CD to comment on them publicly.

Summary

Sends figures on increase in value of North Western Railway stocks. Says consol stock considered much more secure for bankers. Does not think his own bank is in danger of a run. Is glad to see the Emperor of Prussia has confirmed CD’s appointment to Academy. Is snowing at Bassett.

Summary

G[eorge] has visited A[nthony] R[ich] at Worthing.