Summary

Affected by THH’s letter – will send a copy to the other 17 friends. Hopes for his and public’s sake his health will improve.

Summary

Sends Huxley’s "charming letter". Asks whether it should be sent to Lady Millicent Jones. CD is "so happy about the whole affair".

Summary

Sends another copy [of Huxley’s letter of thanks for holiday fund].

Summary

It has just occurred to CD that he ought not to leave a copy of Huxley’s confidential letter in the hands of anyone. Asks JT to write to ask recipients to return the copies to CD at Down.

Summary

Encloses note from J. T. Moggridge commenting on JDH’s letter ["Perception in ants", Nature 7 (1873): 443–4].

Summary

Offers condolences on the death of CL’s wife.

Summary

Asks whether GC knows who gave CD a scolding in last Edinburgh Review [Apr 1873].

Summary

Lady Lyell’s death.

Sends names of donors of gift to THH.

The Edinburgh Review has a critical article against CD, THH, Tyndall, and H. Spencer [see 8935]. Thinks Forbes reference not worth answering.

Summary

Asks whether, in Italy, varieties of Lathyrus odoratus, Pisum sativum, and Phaseolus multiflorus must be grown separately to come true.

Summary

Thanks correspondent for sending him an account of silkworms.

Summary

Hopes JT does not think him over-cautious in requesting the return of the copies [of Huxley’s letter]. Has sent Huxley a list of the subscribers.

Summary

Asks Murray not to announce Cross and self-fertilisation.

Summary

Recommends H. Müller’s Die Befruchtung der Blumen (1873).

Summary

Thanks FL for sending his essays and some photographs.

Summary

Comments on HM’s book [Die Befruchtung der Blumen (1873)]. Particularly glad to read historical sketch and discussion of work of C. K. Sprengel.

Summary

Recommends H. Müller’s Die Befruchtung den Blumen durch Insekten (1873).

Summary

Thanks for note and information.

Mentions venomous caterpillars in Africa and Australia.

Summary

Thanks for the Dionaea leaves. They support CD’s anticipation that they are adapted to let the smaller fry escape [see Insectivorous plants, p. 312].

Summary

John Murray has announced his next book [Cross and self-fertilisation] without CD’s knowledge. It is only half-written. JVC will hear when it is published and will decide whether it is worth translating. It will be dry, but, CD believes, of value.

Has read an account of JVC’s Scottish lectures.

Invites JVC to Down.

Summary

Asks for results of FH’s experiments fertilizing some flowers with pollen from the same flower, & other flowers with pollen from distinct flowers borne by the same plant.

Has read FH’s paper on the distribution of the seeds of the Graminæ (Hildebrand 1872, pp. 740–1) with great interest.