Summary

Thinks Huxley’s judgment on answering S. Butler’s charges would be trustworthy, though THH is horribly pugnacious and would naturally be for fighting.

Summary

Has read Butler’s letter and CD’s draft reply and Litchfield’s letter. Has no hesitation in saying CD should take no notice. Litchfield’s advice is judicious.

Summary

Greatly relieved by THH’s letter [advising against a reply to Samuel Butler].

Summary

Samuel Butler’s fierce attack on CD and EK in Athenæum. CD’s sentence saying that EK had altered his Kosmos article was accidentally omitted from second proofs. Butler insinuates that EK’s attack on his book was suggested by CD or interpolated by him in EK’s text.

Summary

Comments on colours of races of man. Wishes WZS "or anybody else" could account for them.

Summary

On GJR’s work on mental evolution in animals. Emphasises "love" among animals.

Comments on stimulation of plants.

On pleasure and pain.

Summary

Since CD has decided not to answer S. Butler’s charge, WSD will not reply either.

Will look over Francis Darwin’s lecture ["Climbing plants"] with a view to publishing it in Popular Science Review [19 (1880): 213–29].

Summary

Thinks CD has no need to reply to Samuel Butler’s hostile article [in the Athenæum]. Offers to reply himself.

Summary

Thinks Herbert Spencer has done little service to science but a great service to thinking.

Thinks importance of mathematics overestimated [by J. F. Moulton] in criticising Spencer.

Summary

CD is pleased that EK will answer Butler. Thinks Butler is half insane.

Summary

Returns [Butler’s] attack, which he forgot to send yesterday.

Summary

Sends birthday wishes.

Discusses work on Medusae.

Recalls visit to Down.

Summary

CD advises EK on his proposed letter answering Butler.

Considering the favourable reviews, sale of Erasmus Darwin has been poor.

Summary

Birthday greetings.

Regrets Butler’s malicious attack.

Summary

Describes formation of student nature study club at the University of Jena. Sends birthday greetings from the club.

Summary

Sends birthday greetings

and the good news of a subvention for the Zoological Station received from the German government. There are now 20 naturalists working at the Station.

Summary

It might be possible to borrow £500 [for potato experiments]. Variety of "The Champion" spreading over the Kingdom. Champion lately less able to produce.

Summary

Encloses cuttings from Birmingham Daily Post, 12 February 1880, p. 4, and 13 February 1880, p.5, reporting the presentation to CD of the first honorary membership of the Birmingham Philosophical Society.

Summary

Enjoyed HM’s castigation of Gaston Bonnier ["Gaston Bonniers angebliche Widerlegung der modernen Blumentheorie", Kosmos 7 (1880): 219–36].

Summary

Thanks for his very kind letter.