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

Has read Butler’s letter and CD’s draft reply and Litchfield’s letter. Has no hesitation in saying CD should take no notice. Litchfield’s advice is judicious.

Worm-castings. Encloses notes about worm activities at Gravetye Manor.

Forster cannot help at present. Is sending copies of an enclosure [missing] to Downing Street.

Writes on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury to invite CD to a private conference organised in an attempt to reconcile science and religion. [Enclosed is a printed two-page memorial calling for such a conference.]

"Dia" [as a prefix] means "through, across".

WED’s wife would like to meet the Huxleys.

Repeats extracts of a letter received from Bishop Stirling’s daughter containing anecdotes and observations of the Fuegian natives.

Will stay until London until after the Linnean Society meeting unless CD wants anything. Asks to send abstracts of papers. Has made short abstracts of papers for Nature.

Explains delay in printing proofs [of Movement in plants?].

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

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

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.

Sends a copy of his Souvenirs entomologiques [1879].

Reports on the comfortable life of an immigrant in Oregon.

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.

Pleased by favourable English newspaper reviews of Erasmus Darwin. Charles Reinwald has not yet said whether he wants to use annotations intended for German readers.

FBG greatly interested in CD’s article ["Fertility of hybrids from the Chinese and common goose"] but has not altered his opinion on the matter.

Gratified by CD’s praise.

Describes plan of his new book [Island life (1880)].

Efforts to secure a post.

Thanks CD for Erasmus Darwin. Comments on it.

News of Violetta Darwin’s death.