Sorry he missed THH’s lecture ["The coming of age of The origin of species", Royal Institution, 9 Apr 1880]. Has read press notices and heard from his children of its great success.

Has read THH’s review of Sir Wyville Thomson’s [Introduction to the] Voyage of the "Challenger".

Sends a draft of a letter for Nature [Collected papers 2: 223–4]. He particularly asks THH to decide whether he should include a certain paragraph [see ML 1: 389].

Sends draft of memorial for a pension for Wallace with suggested names of signers. Asks THH’s help.

Is glad that Hooker will sign memorial for Wallace’s pension. Had thought it hopeless because Hooker objected to ARW’s spiritualism and his bet on the sphericity of the globe.

Asks to see THH on Thursday or Friday to hear about the Wallace affair.

Thinks Wallace memorial should not be presented to Lord Aberdare, nor to Owen, for signature, but will follow THH’s wishes.

Has asked Hooker to sign the Wallace memorial and send it on to THH.

Read splendid lecture by THH on evolution in the Times ["On the application of the laws of evolution to the arrangement of the Vertebrata and more particularly of the Mammalia", Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. (1880): 649–62].

Has obtained signatures for the memorial. Wonders whether Gladstone would see a deputation and offers to write to Gladstone instead. Asks THH’s advice.

Success of the memorial for Wallace. Sends letter from Gladstone.

Congratulates THH on appointment as Inspector of Fisheries.

Congratulates CD on success of Wallace memorial.

Butler has attacked again.

Asks THH to sign a certificate of nomination to Geological Society for his son William, if an interest in geology is still enough to qualify for election.

CD tells how it came about that Anthony Rich bequeathed his house and land to THH.

Has had letter from Rothenburg asking him to help obtain a grant for Haeckel’s expedition to Ceylon.

Erasmus has left half his fortune to CD. Anthony Rich nevertheless insists on keeping to his testamentary arrangements. He also referred to leaving some additional property to THH.

Thanks for Science and culture [1881].

Refers to "Automatism" ["On the hypothesis that animals are automata"], wishing THH could review himself and answer himself and thus go on ad infinitum to the joy and instruction of the world.

Regrets he can add no more to his preface for Weismann’s Studies. Offers donation to aid with publishing expenses.

Thinks RM’s preface is excellent.

Feels better. Grateful for THH’s kind letter. Wishes there were more automata like him.

Thanks for report [on echinoderms, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 2d ser. 8 (1851): 1–19]. Wanted to learn about metamorphosis of the class. Agrees with THH’s distinction between individuals and zooids, but thinks zooids will never cease to be called individuals.

Testimonial for THH’s application for Chair in Natural History at Toronto.

Proposes to send THH vol. 1 of Living Cirripedia.