Summary

CD advises EK on his proposed letter answering Butler.

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

Summary

SB has decided to lay the matter [the subject of 12393 and 12396] before the public and has written to the Athenæum stating the facts. [Athenæum 31 Jan 1880.]

Summary

Does JT require part or all of £90 that CD holds from subscribers for his experiments?

Summary

Admires Wallace’s Island life.

Criticises: 1. His view of similar plants on distant mountains – CD prefers previous low-land connections to Wallace’s summit–summit dispersal;

2. Source of warmth for ancient Arctic climate;

3. Origin of S. Australian flora.

CD’s favourite cases in Movement in plants.

Summary

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

Summary

Is keeping down his expenditure; has some landowners growing potatoes for him.

Summary

The Colonel [J. L. Chester] is pleased [see 12509].

Jos[iah Wedgwood III] is dying.

Summary

On the disease-resisting qualities and yield of certain potatoes.

Summary

Thanks for Megarrhiza seeds and information. Has been greatly interested by Megarrhiza germination.

Samuel Butler has attacked CD over Erasmus Darwin.

Summary

The recipient is thanked for his "interesting letter".

CD sends an article received from [James Geikie?]. "You will see that it is important to know whether the laminae of slate have ever been bent up-hill."

Summary

Responds to CD’s offer to pay for subscription to Kosmos.

Comments on his own honorarium for English edition of Erasmus Darwin. Success of German edition.

Summary

Thanks CD for giving money to the children. Is going to give money to Bessy, but not invest it until she is really rich. Returns Butler’s letter. Thinks Butler is looking for a grievance to write an article about.

Summary

Forwards John Lubbock’s letter and hopes WED might influence the men "for the sake of science".

Summary

Thanks for interesting letter; is sure it would be worth while to test fertility of illegitimate offspring of heterostyled plants.

Would welcome any information on occurrence of bloom-covered leaves on dry plains.

Summary

Describes subscription for Torbitt [to continue potato experiments]. Would dislike writing to any paper, but Hensleigh [Wedgwood] and Erasmus [Darwin] advise CD to write to the Times.

Summary

Encloses a statement regarding the progress of Torbitt’s potato experiments, and discusses the handling of the fund CD holds for Torbitt.

Summary

Thanks for letter of 18th January 1880 and for present of Essays. Interested in Welcker’s investigation of the 'ligamentum teres', and his comment on the feet of the Chinese.

Will esteem it an honour if Welcker dedicates his next book to him.

Summary

Worm-castings from [Roman] ruins at Brading contained bits of tiles or bricks. Obliged for WED’s trouble about Brading castings.

Movement in plants well received in Germany.