There is a hyacinth growing upside down in Hankinson’s garden. Sends picture of it. Leslie Stephen knows of no worthwhile sources of information on Dr Erasmus Darwin.

Asks CD to join W. H. Flower and Huxley in signing a memorial in support of Dr Coues. He is a U.S. Army surgeon who has been working on an ornithological bibliography and needs support to complete his work in England.

The "great book" [presumably Dr Erasmus Darwin’s commonplace book, see Erasmus Darwin, p. iii] arrived safely.

Can RD supply a photograph of [Breadsall] Priory?

Will try to find an engraving of [Breadsall] Priory.

Offers a photograph of Dr Erasmus Darwin’s house in Derby.

"I have signed the enclosed with pleasure."

Thanks AN for his kind expression about Frank [Darwin].

NvM is 17 years old. Confused by reading CD’s works and Ernst Haeckel’s Natürliche Schöpfungsgeschichte [1868]. Can a believer in CD’s theory believe in God?

Sends a sample of seeds of Onobrychis sativa and Poterium muricatum, plants that show mimicry.

Sends specimens from F. Müller.

Criticises A. R. Wallace’s review of Grant Allen’s The colour-sense [Nature 19 (1879): 501–5].

Is interested to hear of CD’s life of Dr Erasmus Darwin. There is no photo of Breadsall Priory, but she would be happy to make a drawing of it.

Has been "deeply interested by the great book" [see 11966]. Asks permission to publish extracts.

Did Dr Darwin go to Edinburgh when his son, Charles, died? Asks whether RD has ever heard a story about Dr Darwin that had been told to CD by the Galtons.

CD made an ordinary member of the Royal Danish Academy. [See 11984.]

Suggests that mimicry of sainfoin by burnet plants is an adaptation against farmers’ weeding.

Is glad CD has found interest in "the old book" [Dr Erasmus Darwin’s commonplace book].

Discusses Erasmus Darwin and his belongings, which RD has inherited.

Owns a portrait of Erasmus Darwin by Joseph Wright of Derby.

Has found a pamphlet of 1780 about Charles Darwin [1758–78].

RD’s sister, Violetta, has found some early verses and a MS by Dr Erasmus Darwin.

Gives some examples of Dr Erasmus Darwin’s benevolence; will forward some books that may interest CD.

Research for Erasmus Darwin. CD has always thought there is one "golden rule" for biographers: "not to insert anything which … would interest only the members of the Family".

Thanks CD for sending some old family letters of RD’s father’s [Francis Sacheverel Darwin (1786–1859)].

Discusses material for Erasmus Darwin including an engraved portrait by Joseph Wright.

He has nothing at all to send in answer to CD’s questions respecting the book on Erasmus Darwin.

Sends her sketch of [Breadsall] Priory, as renovated by present owner.