Italian translation of Variation will at last be published; will await second [English] edition to incorporate corrections.

Asks permission to translate Expression.

The second [Italian] edition of Origin is now in press.

JDH will arrive by train on Saturday.

Will be delayed on Saturday because of unveiling of a monument to Sir J. Franklin at Westminster Abbey.

RC will confer with printer about type, etc., for reprint of Variation.

Only 250 copies remain of [2d ed. of] Descent – will print 1000 more for annual sale.

Expression does not move.

Thanks AD for her account [of the regrowth of her sister’s amputated supernumerary finger]. Is much perplexed what to conclude. Feels he should either retract his account [in Variation, 1st ed., 2: 14–15] or substantiate it by judgment of a physiologist like James Paget. Asks for tracings of her sister’s hand. [See Variation, 2d ed., 1: 459].

Murray is willing to make same arrangement with D. Appleton for Climbing plants as for Insectivorous plants.

There will be no difficulty about corrections for reprint of Descent, providing new matter fills same space as old.

Hexadactyly. Regrowth of removed supernumerary digits.

CD sends his thanks for her intercession with her sister [Alice Chambers]. The extract from her father’s [Robert Chambers] diary will be sufficient.

He forwards the requested autograph.

Giovanni Canestrini should be reminded that before any plates for another of CD’s books can be sent, payment must be made for those already sent.

Objects to the stupid way a plate is bound into South America.

Thanks for Insectivorous plants.

Believes Lepidoptera are of greater importance as fertilisers in alpine regions than in lowlands.

The famous stone pits of Ohningen are for sale.

Is preparing new edition of Variation and has a query on speed of racehorses.

Sends papers concerned with [copyright?] registration for French and German editions [of Insectivorous plants].

Encloses specimens of type for Variation [2d ed.].

Thinks Climbing plants [2d ed.] had better be kept in type; 1500 copies to be printed, with stereotypes to be made for Appleton.

Has re-examined her sister’s extra finger. Reports her sister’s recollections regarding its regrowth.

Apologises for keeping the tables so long [see 10090]. The results seem extremely curious.

Comments on paper by JHG and J. B. Lawes.

Thanks for a copy of Suess 1875.

It would be an advantage to start printing vol. 1 of Variation [2d ed.] at once, if CD can release it. Knotty problem: the number of copies to be printed.

Encloses copy of description of an outgrown stump. Refers to letter [missing] in which CD reports on a case of amputation. Would like to check J. Simpson’s cases before thinking everything is settled.

Thanks for answer to racehorse query;

would be grateful for correction of any errors in Variation.