Thanks for the reviews, particularly the one in the Times.

CD will be pleased to receive Mr Wallace.

Regrets he cannot permit his name to be used to support WSK’s aquarium project. If WSK decides to set up an aquarium solely for scientific purposes he would consider subscribing.

Lithospermum longiflorum has cleistogamous flowers and, unlike other species of genus, it is not dimorphic.

Sends autograph as requested.

Is "awfully glad" at LD’s appointment [as an instructor at Chatham].

Thinks LD should start reading chemistry "though reading does not do much".

Reports scientific work of George and Frank Darwin.

Staying with W. D. Fox on the Isle of Wight. Offers to find Pulmonaria plants.

Congratulates CD on testimonials from the savants of Germany and the Netherlands [Nature 15 (1877): 356, 410–12] and generally on his contributions to biology.

Asks if and when CD’s "Variability of organic beings in a state of nature", as projected in 1868 [see Variation 1: 4] is to appear.

CD doubts that he will be able to do much more that is new, but cannot bear idleness. Has great amount of material on variation under nature, but so much has been published since the appearance of the Origin that he doubts he has the power of mind to render the mass into a digested whole.

Sends cheques in payment of CD’s share of profits on Cross and self-fertilisation, now nearly exhausted,

and the latest printing of Origin.

Wishes to reprint his four Linnean Society papers on di- and trimorphic plants [Forms of flowers]. Requests permission and woodblocks of figures.

Murray’s will not announce CD’s new work [Forms of flowers] until informed to do so.

Encloses statement of sales for Origin, Expression, Descent and Insectivorous plants and sends a cheque for the balance due to CD.