Astonished and disgusted at Klein’s evidence. No doubt there will be severe and vicious legislation against physiology. Will give evidence before Commission.

Has heard that FG will write on inheritance. Huxley does not believe in E. G. Balbiani’s views on subject.

Mentions his appearance before Vivisection Commission.

Discusses his plans for planting and observing the carrots sent by GJR.

Mentions views of J. S. Burdon Sanderson on graft-hybrids.

Comments on GJR’s paper ["Instinct and acquisition", Nature 12 (1875): 553–4].

[Letter incorrectly dated "Thursday 8th" by CD.] [!? shd be note not synopsis]

Carrots have arrived; CD has potted them.

In London yesterday for Vivisection Commission.

Is revising his chapter on Pangenesis [in Variation, 2d ed.] to allow that gemmules probably multiply in the reproductive organs.

Notes examples of inheritance of acquired characteristics cited by Brown-Séquard.

Doubts that double parentage is necessary for complex organisations.

Comments on FG’s paper ["A theory of heredity"]. Finds essay difficult to understand. Objects that FG’s theory conflicts with phenomenon of use and disuse. Conflicts also with rarity of bud-variations in nature.

Says he has ordered FG’s article ["The history of twins", Fraser’s Mag. 92 (1875): 566–76; revised in J. Anthropol. Inst. 5 (1876): 391–406].

CD sends a draft bill which he helped to prepare relating to experiments on live animals; the Commissioners may wish to see it.

Does not doubt animals reason in a practical fashion. Do not the rats hear the water trickling?

Comments on FG’s paper ["The history of twins"].

CD is "in a passion with the Spectator who always muddles".

Suggests that, if HdV make further observations on tendrils, he attend to Echinocystis, as described on p. 132 of Climbing plants.

Thanks for Elementary biology [1875]. Wishes he had had a course like it.

Mentions receipt of EH’s History of creation [1876].

Describes his own work on cross- and self-fertilised flowers. Subject bears on the very principle of life.

CD cannot remember whether he was on the committee of the Jamaica affair [for prosecution of Governor Eyre in 1866] but he subscribed £10.

It is curious and amusing how positivists hate all men of science, possibly because their prophet [Comte] made laughable and gigantic blunders in predicting the course of science.

Thanks for a ‘very remarkable & trustworthy case of reason in the dog’.

Greatly pleased at sale [of Climbing plants].

Points out a discrepancy in their records of copies of Origin printed.

500 more copies of Insectivorous plants should last forever.

Thanks JVC for corrections in Insectivorous plants. Explains confusion of fluid and dry measures. The work has sold well in England.

Repeats suggestion that JVC employ someone to translate Climbing plants under his supervision.

Asks to be informed whenever more copies of his books are printed, as there may be errors to correct.

Asks how many copies of Origin have been printed "from the first". The number will be "a good puff" when listed in the new edition of Variation.

Has read EH’s History of creation [trans. E. R. Lankester (1875)]. Was much struck with many "brilliant & original remarks". Is gratified by the way EH speaks of CD’s books.

Communicates a paper by Lawson Tait to the Royal Society [not published by Royal Society, see 10452].

Because CD has been unwell, he has not read RLT’s paper carefully, but it seems an important contribution to science. Hopes RLT’s chemical observations will be confirmed. It seems a great anomaly that two substances with an acid should be requisite for digestion.