Comments on a letter from Fritz Müller [11839] and particularly on the subject of the disappearance of certain structures in organisms. FM’s explanation deserves serious consideration.

CD agrees to subscribe to reprint of Blyth’s Field articles on cranes.

Describes plans to publish English edition of Krause’s work on Erasmus Darwin.

Will correct Anna Seward’s calumnies [in Memoirs of the life of Dr Darwin (1804)].

Asks about family letters.

Doubts some stories about Erasmus Darwin [in Christiana C. Hankin, ed., Life of Mary Anne Schimmelpenninck (1858)].

Seeks clarification of statements on sleep movements on p. 29 of WFPP’s work [Die periodischen Bewegungen der Blattorgane (1875)].

Wants a Cassia identified

and several plants and seeds for experimental purposes.

Can CMCD provide a photograph of Elston, the birthplace of Erasmus Darwin, with permission to have it reproduced in Erasmus Darwin.

Discusses information about Dr Erasmus Darwin.

Thanks for information and stories about Erasmus Darwin.

Announces his intention to translate and preface [E. Krause’s] sketch of Dr Erasmus Darwin’s life. Asks whether RD has any documents concerning Dr Darwin or letters by him.

CD has written to members of the family for Dr Erasmus Darwin materials and letters. Is apprehensive lest his preface and EK’s essay interfere with one another. Will confine himself to ED’s character and letters;

has begun investigating the influence he had on medical practice.

Thanks for FHGH’s new book; also for the list of seeds, but he does not want any at present.

Requests information about a travel route used by their grandfather, Erasmus Darwin. Thanks FG for his help.

CD is "now trying to find out how far the Zoonomia influenced medical practice in England".

Thanks for the plants for heliotropic experiments.

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?

Has just read GA’s article in Fortnightly Review ["A problem of human evolution", 31 (1879): 778–86]. GA’s views very probable. Something wonderful to hear anyone defending sexual selection.

CD agrees entirely with EK’s proposal. Has collected a good deal of material. Useless to hunt for correspondence between Dr Darwin and Samuel Johnson. They met only once and hated one another. Dr Darwin is said to have taken Henry Brooke, who published a poem entitled "Universal beauty", as a model.

"I have signed the enclosed with pleasure."

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

Memorial in support of EC travelling to Europe to research his bibliography of ornithology.

Parcel of drawings and MS arrived safely.

Thanks for WTT-D’s trouble.