Summary

Answers correspondent’s questions on his birth date and when he began work on origin of species.

Summary

Congratulations to CD on twenty-first anniversary of Origin.

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Very pleased to receive CD’s dinner invitation.

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Glad GK will come. But cannot talk long to anyone.

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Reports case of a girl’s sudden death when a large abscess, formed by a cherry-stone in the vermiform appendix, burst into the peritoneum. Perhaps relevant to Descent [2d ed., pp. 20–1].

Summary

Has sent 2d ed. of his book, Werden und Vergehen [1880]. Notes that book was attacked in Prussian House of Deputies by ultramontane critics of Hermann Müller who had recommended it to his pupils.

Summary

Asks CD to join in a testimonial supporting James Murie’s candidacy for Librarian of Linnean Society.

Summary

Insists that EK take the profits from the English edition of Erasmus Darwin. EK’s essay is the valuable part of the book; CD’s is mainly gossip.

Summary

Edmond Barbier is dead and his widow needs support.

Summary

Worm-castings. Encloses notes about worm activities at Gravetye Manor.

Summary

Asks her to look for worm-castings in heath. Thinks heath conditions may be unfavourable. CD is sure Lucy would look with her, from her well-known affection for worms. Asks what sort of lantern Lucy used.

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Discusses how fruits of lime-trees arranged themselves in a ripple-like way on a flooded walk.

Summary

Is having a trough made to try experiments [on ripple-marks].

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Acknowledges receipt of R-LM’s book on parasitic worms. [Perhaps Essai monographique sur les cysticerques (1880) in vol. 3 of the Travaux of the Institut Zoologique de Lille.]

Summary

Indicates portions of Island life that will interest CD. Explanation of the geological climate is the foundation stone of the book.

Hooker’s approval of the theory of Australian and New Zealand floras.

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Comments on the progress of Torbitt’s experiments.

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Mentions CD’s approval of earlier articles on CD’s works, and requests approval and permission to dedicate to CD a second work on CD’s thought for the International Library of Science and Free-thought.

Summary

Publication of EA’s remarks on CD’s writings requires no consent on CD’s part. CD would prefer that no part or volume be dedicated to him as it would imply his general approval of the publication, of which he knows nothing. Though he is a strong advocate of free-thought CD feels that direct attacks on Christianity and theism produce hardly any effect. Freedom of thought is best promoted by gradual illumination of men’s minds produced by advance of science. Has therefore avoided writing on religion though "I may have been unduly biassed by the pain which it would give members of my family, if I aided in any way direct attacks on religion".

Summary

Édouard Heckel will translate Movement in plants.

Summary

Questions BP & Co. on notices requesting the payment of rent charges.