Summary

Thanks for his election as an Honorary Member

Summary

Has sent FM’s letter on to Nature ["Brazil kitchen middens, habits of ants, etc.", Nature 13 (1876): 304–5].

Would be grateful for Ceropegia seeds.

Summary

Has signed enclosure [Royal Society nomination for McLachlan] with pleasure.

Summary

Writes regarding affairs of the Down Friendly Society.

Summary

Comments on her new book [A short history of natural science (1876)].

Summary

Writes regarding affairs of the Down Friendly Society.

Summary

Thanks CD for letter complimenting her book. Responds to his comments on botany and geology in book.

Summary

Inquires whether insectivorous habit in plants supplements or replaces the normal method of plant nutrition.

Summary

Declines invitation to accompany JJW to Crystal Palace.

Summary

Sends packets of seeds of peas of different sizes [i.e., weights] for CD’s experiments; identifies size of the seeds that produced them. FG is experimenting "in the same direction" and is curious how his results will compare with CD’s.

Summary

Observations on hive- and humble-bees. Perforating habits differ in different individuals of the same species.

Summary

Sends set of illustrations for Expression marked to show those that could be improved for a future edition.

Summary

Describes self- and cross-fertilisation experiments.

Asks JHG’s advice on setting up an experiment designed to test whether the cause of variation in cultivated plants lies in different substances absorbed from the soil when absorption is not interfered with by other plants in a state of nature. Can JHG suggest how he can get soil free of all the substances which plants naturally absorb?

Summary

Has received seeds of Cecropia peltata from Kew.

Has asked Hermann Müller to send copy of FM’s paper as soon as published.

Summary

Encloses statement of sales of Origin, Expression, Descent, and Insectivorous plants to 1 Feb 1876.

Has charged against CD’s account half the cost of old plates from Judd for Variation. When will plates for new edition be sent?

Insectivorous plants not selling well because of general depression in business.

Summary

Asks that the copy of Nature containing letter from Fritz Müller be forwarded to FM [see 10324].

Summary

RLT to review 2d ed. of Variation and write an article on Pangenesis.

Discussion of "Survival of the Fittest".

Summary

Herbert Spencer invented the term "survival of the fittest". CD used it but found "natural selection" more convenient.

He has often spoken of natural selection’s destruction of individuals which do not come up to "proper standards of structure", which comes to nearly the same thing as RLT’s suggested distinction.

Summary

Is putting together a natural history book for intelligent children [The puzzle of life (1877)]; would like CD’s opinion on the project in general and on the completed first chapter in particular.

Summary

Supports AN’s idea [of a natural history book for children].