Supports AN’s idea [of a natural history book for children].

Thanks RLT for his letter. CD took much trouble over his two cases [regrowth of amputated supernumerary digits, in Variation] but the evidence was shaky.

Sends some cash to help WED with moving expenses.

RLT’s two articles in Spectator [4 Mar and 25 Mar 1876] greatly honour CD.

Tait has made a good point about "Survival of the Fittest".

Dr Rudinger’s extensive inquiries show that all eminent German surgeons are unanimous about non-growth of extra digit after amputation.

J. Kollmann has written regretting CD has given up atavism and extra digits [in 2d ed. of Variation]; gives new evidence of a rudimentary sixth digit in batrachians.

Thanks for essay [Cras credemus: a treatise on the cultivation of the potato from the seed, having for proposed results the extinction of the disease (1876)] and seeds. Thinks principle on which JT is acting is right.

Cannot allow publication of his earlier letter [10368], as he cannot recall what he wrote.

McLachlan has as strong a claim to be F.R.S. as any entomologist, but Garrod’s work is of higher quality.

Thanks HB for obtaining a translation by a learned rabbi of [the Naphtali Lewy] letter – "a real curiosity". [See 10430.]

Gives advice on breeding of blight-resistant potatoes.

Daughter Henrietta’s illness prevents a trip to London.

The Society’s rejection of R. L. Tait’s paper on Nepenthes is a lesson which will last CD for his life. It is clear that he should not have sent it.

The Royal Society have returned RLT’s Nepenthes paper and will not have it read because of unfavourable reports from referees.

CD preparing new English and German editions of his early geology [of the voyage of the Beagle] books. Asks for Hooker’s copies as he no longer has his own.

Sends Mind. Henry Sidgwick’s article ["The theory of evolution in its application to practice", Mind 1 (1876): 52–67] is so clear it makes CD feel "a muddle-headed man". But he disagrees with Sidgwick on the origin of morality within tribes.

Is sure mathematical discussion of elevation of continents will be valued by geologists.

Sends Thiselton-Dyer’s suggestions for references to Nepenthes,

and gives his opinion on what will influence the Royal Society’s Council in considering RLT’s candidacy.

CD has just had an interview with Edward Frankland, who "almost laughs" at FD’s idea of getting potash and soda out of the soil by treating it with sulphuric acid. Asks FD to send him a soil sample to give to Frankland. Sends enclosures giving address and labels for soil samples.

Has written of his idea [on the formation of the gravels near Southampton] to James Geikie, who thought it very feasible.

Expresses his pride in FD, whose article ["On the structure of the snail’s heart", J. Anat. Physiol. 10 (1876): 506–10] was highly praised by G. H. Lewes.

Lewes has also been quoting FD’s letter in Nature [13 (1876): 384–5] on pycrotoxine in relation to the vivisection controversy.

Was introduced to James Sully, author of the article in Mind on Wilhelm Wundt ["Physiological psychology in Germany", 1 (1876): 20–43]

and Sensation and intuition (1874) [see 10320], by "Mrs Lewes" (George Eliot).

Comments on the reaction of geologists to GHD’s work on elevation of continents.

Discusses FD’s observations on the protrusion of protoplasmic masses by cells of the teasel. Suggests analogy with amoeba. "I would work at this subject if I were you, to the point of death."