Swedish anti-vivisectionists are claiming CD is opposed to animal experiments; Holmgren wishes CD to state his position.

Sends GdeS and A. F. Marion, L’évolution du règne végétal. Les cryptogames [1881].

Murray’s will be happy to publish [Earthworms] on usual terms of two-thirds profits.

Sends his last report on Russian wheat varieties [Gard. Chron. n.s. 15 (1881): 430–2].

Considers which part of grass embryo is the cotyledon.

Sends pamphlet showing that magnetism is the fundamental element by which all is created and maintained.

Announces CD’s election as an Honorary Corresponding Member of the Club.

Sends "Ginger Beer Plant", a seed that assists the fermentation of ginger beer. [Also enclosed are instructions for making ginger beer dated, presumably erroneously, 18 Oct 1881.]

On vivisection. Has read CD’s letter to Frithiof Holmgren and answers the points raised in it.

Requests that CD lecture on evolution in Lichfield.

Discusses vivisection and contradicts CD’s defence of English physiologists.

Asks if he may publish CD’s reply to his previous letter.

Gives case of the inheritance of a tendency to turn grey at a particular age,

and, from his own family, details of the inheritance of a thumb deformity that apparently originated with his grandfather.

Regrets CD will not allow publication of his letter.

Cannot write so is using Lily as secretary. Proud to be member of Geological Society. Sends observations of rhododendron leaves. Could not find piece of ploughed land. Has proved Josiah Wedgwood III’s death in North Eastern Railway Company. Taking care because head hurts.

Sends observations of wormcasts at Malvern. Describes stay at Abinger.

CD made an associate member of the Royal Belgian Botanical Society.

Sends a copy of his dissertation on the germination of the Cucurbitaceae.

Discusses possible investments.

Thanks for letter expressing CD’s position with regard to experiments on living animals and for getting the letter printed in the Times [18 Apr 1881, Collected papers 2: 226–7].

News from the laboratory at Strasbourg; is working on Equisetum roots. Wortmann has found circumnutation in the mycelium of a fast-growing fungus. Please send papers (see 13155).