Enthusiasm for Henry George’s Progress and poverty. Considers it to rank with Adam Smith’s work. His own work on the land question [Land nationalisation (1882)].

AdeC thinks Monographiae phanerogamarum may be of some use to CD for the most nearly correct names to adopt.

Thanks for suggesting that a spare copy of his book [Treatise on comparative embryology (1880–1)] be sent to Fritz Müller.

Would be honoured if CD would come to dine with him, distinguished foreign guests, and H.R.H. Prince of Wales, on 3 Aug, the opening of the [7th International Medical] Congress.

Comments on her life of Lyell.

Will order Progress and poverty. Comments on ARW’s political interests and his own absorption in W. Graham’s The creed of science.

His sojourn at Ullswater: "life has become very wearisome to me".

Declines dinner invitation.

Thanks AB for his letter, his essay on climates ["Theorie der wechselnden kontinentalen und insularen Klimate", Bot. Jahrb. 2 (1882): 1–50, 177–84], and for his photograph. Sends his own.

Communicates two cases of inheritance reported by J. P. Bishop [in 13137]. The work of E. Brown-Séquard has demonstrated that effects of injuries can be inherited ["Hereditary transmission of an epileptiform affection accidentally produced", Proc. R. Soc. Lond. 10 (1860): 297–8]. E. Dupuy has sent CD a still more remarkable case.

Reports de Bary’s opinion of Max Cornu. Accounts of various botanical experiments and observations.

Thanks CD for his kind judgment on his book [The natural conditions of existence (1881)].

E. Ray Lankester has written an unfriendly review of it [Nature 23 (1880–1): 405–9].

Orders a case of soda water.

Asks what to do with [unspecified] receipt.

Interested in investigation of child development. Suggests questions. Does education of parents influence mental power of children? Desirable to test statement that coloured children at first learn as fast as white but afterwards fall behind. Does pitch of chidren’s voices vary with mood? Children’s tastes often related to occupation of progenitor. Do these last?

Thinks hairs on moles are secondary effect like hairs on ulcerated surfaces. Suggests he not publish until he has independent evidence of reversion.

Thinks CGS right not to reply to critical article by Lankester.

Discusses direct action of environment as cause of variability; the finding of Hermann Hoffmann that direct action of environment affects plants very little.

GHD’s abstract from Nature [24 (1881): 231] has been published in Kosmos.

John Collier has finished his portrait of CD.

Reports on a visit to Hermann Vöchting and discussion of Julius Sachs.

Has not been able to win a position that would allow him to conduct research. Seeks technical job instead. Asks for loan to tide himself over probationary period.

Appreciates WCH’s letter with references to the anatomy of ancient human beings. Rejoices in the progress of anthropology.