JL’s address [Presidential Address, 31 Aug 1881, Rep. BAAS (1881): 1–51] has made him think about important steps in advancing geology. Lists major advances in his lifetime.

Sends condolences on the death of E. A. Darwin. LBBD was a schoolfellow at Shrewsbury.

Condolences on the death of E. A. Darwin.

Thanks for letter about death of Erasmus Darwin.

Cannot answer question about dotterels.

Praises JDH’s York address.

S. B. J. Skertchly has paralleled Axel Blytt’s work in Cambridgeshire fens.

JDH too cautious on southern glacial period.

Is Kew interested in Azores plants collected by Arruda Furtado, a local inhabitant and an evolutionist?

Discusses some of his observations on the sleep movement in plants. Has been studying the leaflets of Crotalaria; has discovered they move to face the setting sun.

Comte de Paris requests an orchid from CD for his huge collection.

JDH responds to CD’s criticism of York address.

Arruda Furtado could work on mystery of buried cypress trunks in the Azores.

Gives an account of the reception of his paper at York [BAAS meeting].

Has been visiting Anthony Rich, who persists in his intention to leave his property to CD despite the large fortune left by Erasmus. It is now all the more necessary for CD to arrange his own will.

Condolences on death of Erasmus.

Thanks for gift of Movement in plants.

Plans botanical research in Brazil.

Hermann von Jhering is conducting experiments on snakes.

WB obliged to work as newspaper correspondent.

Plans breeding experiments on dimorphic plants.

Reports that a living frog was found in a lump of coal.

Only 270 copies of Movement in plants remain. Suggests printing another 250 and then breaking up type. If CD agrees, has he any corrections?

Sends a copy of Earthworms.

Wishes to draw up a new will; outlines the changes to be made in the provisions.

Observed a beetle carrying a long worm.

Sending some Hudson’s Bay mosquitoes because of a letter of CD’s quoted in Evening Standard, 5 Sept 1881.

Discusses financial affairs.

Drafting new will as CD requested.

Sends preserved pitchers and figure of Dischidia rafflesiana, a rare plant from East Bengal, which GK and the late John Scott had tried in vain to cultivate.

JBI’s observations on bees and wasps. The hexagonal cells made by solitary queen wasps do not fit explanation in Origin.