AG’s review of Joseph Cook ["Lectures on biology", New Englander 37: 100–13].

Encourages CD to work at heliotropism.

Thinks Thomas Meehan is as "rattle-brained" as Joseph Cook.

[A damaged fragment cut from this letter is pinned to 11051.]

Sends curious, coloured pea seeds.

Discusses various authors’ interpretations of the structure of the embryo of grasses.

Discusses the structure of grass embryos; states differing theories regarding which part of the seed corresponds to the cotyledon.

Thanks for Forms of flowers.

Sends Greek translation of CD’s "Sketch of an infant".

Is working for Greek acceptance of Darwinism.

Sends CD’s and George’s tithes.

Sends birthday wishes.

Discusses his work on the Challenger [expedition] Radiolaria.

Thanks for photograph.

Sends birthday greetings.

Regrets CD has not lately published in Kosmos.

Requests photograph of CD’s family.

Congratulates CD on his birthday.

WDF has been suffering from bronchitis.

Asks opinion of his proposal to Bartholomew Price to translate and publish C. K. Sprengel [Das entdeckte Geheimniss (1793)] and Hermann Müller [Die Befruchtung der Blumen (1873)] in one volume.

Has forwarded CD’s request for wheat specimens to Mr Galkine-Wrasky, Governor of Saratoff in Russia. Asks CD to send his thanks to the Governor and to allow GMA to visit Down to explain the specimens when they arrive.

Praise for Descent with slight criticism of CD’s opinion that racial divergence occurred after the continents were settled.

Apologises for taking liberty of request made in previous letter.

Tells CD ways in which large box of wheat specimens might be shipped from St Petersburg.

Discusses the difficulty of reconstructing angiosperm phylogeny.

Discovery of polar fossil plants helps explain migrations.

Hooker has identification of GdeS’s Permian fossil.

TMR believes rate of limestone formation is same now as in past.

He expects his address [of 10 Oct 1876] on geological time [Proc. Liverpool Geol. Soc. 3 (1878): 211–35], which contradicts William Thomson’s view of the earth’s age, to appear soon.

A Quaker essayist and poet who seeks to reconcile science and religion sends some samples of his work.

On crossing Aegilops.

Wants CD to forward to Chancellor of Exchequer a letter which explains the progress he has made in his potato crossing. Wants to print a CD letter to arouse public interest in the work.

Has sent CD a paper partly relating to Dr Creighton’s curious observations ["Some points of science and practice concerning cancer", Br. Med. J. (1878) pt 1: 219–24].

Asks CD’s opinion on number of copies to be printed of Cross and self-fertilisation [2d ed.]. Now that it is revised, they will stereotype.

Type of Forms of flowers stands, awaiting CD’s corrections, before stereotyping and printing of more copies.

RC regrets delay in supply of Origin.