Doctor's Douglas Wood's report on William's health; sending a cheque; his own health improving; outline of lecture (for the Royal Institution) done, title to be The World of Life: As Visualised and Interpreted by Darwinism; wooden fence almost finished; proofs of index to Spruce book (Notes of a Botanist on the Amazon and Andes by Richard Spruce, ed. and condensed by ARW, Dec. 1908) only just arrived, six weeks after MS sent, so publication of book may be delayed; reading The Yellow Room, in the style of Gaborian, not as good as Sherlock Holmes; has decided O.M. means "Old Man"; sending book [My Life] to Benham today.

About the Copley medal. ARW will not have his name put on something that he hasn't taken part in. Comments on recent inaccurate articles. Believer in inspiration. "All my best ideas have come to me suddenly." Importance of finding a good editor for the journal.