Lord Cardwell thinks it unlikely that Parliament will take any action on a vivisection bill this session. Playfair should be consulted.

E. F. W. Pflüger’s important memoir on how carbonic acid is produced by living matter and his speculation about origin of living matter [see 9931].

Thanks for letter of 15th and book. Recollects many sights of Tierra del Fuego described by CD.

V. O. Kovalevsky has paid for the Expression plates.

Still has 400 copies of Chauncey Wright’s pamphlet

and 450 of Müller’s Facts and arguments for Darwin.

Transcribes extracts from Sir James Mackintosh and J. S. Polack on infanticide.

Announces death of W. W. Reade.

Translates letter [of 30 Mar 1875, missing] to CD from the Society of Naturalists in the Imperial University of Kazan, awarding an honorary membership.

Encloses extract which suggests that CD and friends oppose any restriction on vivisection; asks CD to state his principles. Another bill is being sketched for Cruelty Society.

Supports the Vivisection Bill, with a more humanitarian preamble. Working to get it through the House of Lords.

Acknowledges CD’s letter and enclosure on vivisection.

The Society wishes to introduce a bill to limit vivisection and is arranging a meeting with medical men to discuss the bill.

Sends a chapter [of Insectivorous plants]. Never was there anything so dull, but later chapters will be better. Please correct an error on p. 86.