On the disease-resisting qualities and yield of certain potatoes.

Wants some more rubber bands for his wrist.

Thanks for CD’s letter, and further discussion of the sale of Tromer Lodge.

Requests a list of books.

Arrangements regarding HD’s allowances.

Encloses extracts from the correspondence of [the Ven. Robert] Clive concerning Erasmus Darwin.

Asks CD for reference to the edition of Kosmos that contains the original of Ernst Krause’s article on Dr Erasmus Darwin. There are serious differences between the translation by W. S. Dallas and the Feb [1879] article by Krause on which CD, in the preface to Erasmus Darwin, says it was based. SB notes in particular that the concluding sentence of the translation, which is clearly aimed at [SB’s] Evolution, old and new, is not in the original. Since readers will assume the text of Erasmus Darwin was written before his book appeared, SB asks for an explanation.

Having reviewed the history of the Glen Roy debate ["On the origin of the parallel roads of Lochaber, and their bearing on other phenomena of the glacial period", Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 170 (1880): 663–776], JP wishes to know whether it is accurate to say CD has abandoned the marine theory.

Krause altered the MS [of his essay on Erasmus Darwin] considerably before sending it to be translated. This is a common practice, but CD now regrets he did not state in his preface that the article had been modified. The translation had been arranged before SB’s book [Evolution, old and new] was announced.

JP is right; CD gave up [Glen Roy theory] when he read T. F. Jamieson ["On the parallel roads of Glen Roy", Q. J. Geol. Soc. Lond. 19 (1863): 235–58].

Sends a copy of his Souvenirs entomologiques [1879].

Returns BJS’s Christmas good wishes.

The progress of Tierra del Fuego is almost as wonderful as that of Japan.

Is sorry to hear about Mellersh.

Thanks for awarding him the Bressa prize. Has sent an order to receive the 12,000 lira.

Reports on the comfortable life of an immigrant in Oregon.

Admiration of ARW’s ["The origin of species and genera", Nineteenth Century (Jan 1880)]. Good use of Allen’s "admirable researches".

Disappointment about the Epping Forest appointment.

Farrer’s article in Fortnightly Review.

Has read AE’s paper in Nature [21 (1880): 217] on Melochia, a new family of heterostyled plants, and suggests some crosses to be carried out to determine the fertility of illegitimate seedlings.

The reviews of Erasmus Darwin are mainly favourable.

Results of his second year of experiments with Russian wheat varieties will be published in Gardeners’ Chronicle [n.s. 13 (1880): 108, 172–3].

Observations on germination of wheat.

Delighted by honour CD has received from Turin. Agrees with Horace that the money ought to be given to the Zoological Station at Naples.

Requests that they receive, on his behalf, an award of 12000 lira [lire!?] from the Royal Academy of Sciences of Turin, and transmit it to the Union Bank, London.