Summary

Oliver says Oxalis colorata is O. floribunda.

Summary

Regrets he has not given Zoonomia the attention it deserves. Informs CD that Erasmus Darwin may have anticipated a discovery about paralysis of vessels by exposure to heat [see Erasmus Darwin, p. 109].

Summary

There is a hyacinth growing upside down in Hankinson’s garden. Sends picture of it. Leslie Stephen knows of no worthwhile sources of information on Dr Erasmus Darwin.

Summary

Will see CD in Worthing next week.

Summary

Has had an account of his experiments published. Sends CD some specimens of seedlings and tubers.

Summary

Describes one of his varieties of potato in its third and fourth years. [CD notes his observations on this variety grown at Down, July 1879.]

Summary

Encloses some references [missing] to information on Dr Erasmus Darwin.

Summary

Sends first part of MS of Erasmus Darwin.

Has found useful criticism of Anna Seward in J. G. Lockhart’s Life of Sir Walter Scott.

CD should regard MS as a draft and correct anything that seems incorrect or questionable. Asks biographical questions about Dr Darwin. Can CD give information about origin of family name?

Summary

Sends CD an article on Dr Erasmus Darwin [from Monthly Magazine, see 12028].

Tells of a "discovery" he has made about taking observations of the sun. Does not know yet whether it is new.

Summary

Has been trying unsuccessfully to weigh something for CD.

Summary

Has received the enlarged MS for Erasmus Darwin from E. Krause.

Summary

Will wait for CD’s preliminary essay before proceeding with German edition [of Erasmus Darwin]. Regards CD’s essay as the principal attraction. Would like to finish German edition by end of July.

Summary

Has difficulty with E. Krause’s orthography and quotations.

Asks CD to lend him Anna Seward’s biography [Memoirs of the life of Dr Darwin (1804)].

Summary

Compatibility of evolution and theism.

Summary

CD awarded the Baly Medal of the Royal College of Physicians.

Summary

Are modifications in human form and intellect due solely to natural selection or do altered external conditions also play a role?

Summary

Has CD seen Samuel Butler’s Evolution, old and new [1879], which contains a biography of Erasmus Darwin and exposition of his philosophy? "Does not this rather take the wind out of our sails?"

Summary

Sends a collection of wheat varieties from Turkestan in response to a newspaper notice of CD’s interest.

Summary

Sends abstracts of more articles [on Dr Erasmus Darwin] from Monthly Magazine.

Summary

Has received CD’s letter [see 12050]. Gives CD the history of the Baly Medal and names previous recipients. It is not necessary for CD to be present for the award, but if he chooses to attend, arrangements could be made for him to arrive just before the presentation. CD will not be required to make an acceptance speech.