Frank’s reasons for not accepting the Cambridge Examinership.

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?

"I have signed the enclosed with pleasure."

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

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.

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 him for his efforts. CD cared most about the letter to Thomas Okes [see Erasmus Darwin, pp. 14–15]. "Cannot think who the calumnious article cd have been about [in?] 1802."

Discusses his work on Dr Erasmus Darwin’s life.

Thanks for information about Erasmus Darwin and for lending journal.

Leaves home on 6th for a rest.

Will commence writing Erasmus Darwin.

Apologises for keeping RD’s various books for so long a time.

Asks GHD to look in Cambridge University Library for Monthly Magazine articles containing a malicious calumny concerning Dr [Erasmus] D[arwin] [see Erasmus Darwin, pp. 65–70].

Asks GHD to look for a life of Sir Henry Rayburn [Raeburn] "who is spoken of as famous and who painted Charles Darwin [1758–1778] when dead". Asks why he painted the corpse.

A big book arrived for GHD before CD left Down. Hopes it is Thomson and Tait [Treatise on natural philosophy, 2 vols., 2d ed. (1869)]. It shows what they think of GHD.

Thinks it grand if GHD has made a correction about "such an old sinner as the Sun" and hopes his arithmetic on his old subject will turn out right.

Appreciates award of the Baly Medal and hopes to attend ceremony on 26 June.

CD is particularly obliged for the copy of Maria Edgeworth’s letter.

Sends some queries connected with his writing of the biographical preface to Erasmus Darwin.

Sends a letter [missing] on the chance that GHD might give the writer information about tides.

Rejoices at GHD’s friendship with Sir W. Thomson and grand vein of research he has struck on.

First draft of life of Dr [Erasmus] D[arwin] is nearly finished.

Try to find and read [a German] account of the fir-trees affected by some fungus which produces upright shoots. CD wants to know whether the case is same as what he has observed in the silver fir. Includes diagram.

Wants FD to find out what sort of man Ernst Krause is.

Thanks for FD’s letter describing microscopic work under experienced supervision.

Is glad to hear of C. E. Stahl’s objection to treating plants as mere machines.

Pleased that J. von Sachs has yielded on growth.

Perhaps Stahl will recognise whether the case of the silver fir is the same as that referred to in the German account [see 12074b].

CD has finished the first draft of his essay on Erasmus Darwin’s life and is "heartily sick of the job".

Believes that he will prove that the tip of radicle is the brain as far as geotropism is concerned.