Urges EK to do as he thinks best about German edition of Erasmus Darwin. CD sends original of EK’s essay and translation of parts he has not used.

Agrees to EK’s proposals [for publishing Erasmus Darwin]. Will send sheets to Paris, but is not sure there will be a French translation.

CD thanks Krause for the errata.

CD is sorry to hear that Krause’s part will not appear in the French edition, and cannot believe that C.-F. Reinwald would be influenced by antagonism to the Germans. Reinwald always gives CD a small percentage on sales, and CD had intended to pass it on to EK.

Encloses a letter from CD to C.-F. Reinwald for EK to read, and if he approves, to send on.

CD complains of unfair treatment by EK’s publisher [of Erasmus Darwin, Karl Alberts], who has written that he now does not want the copies of the photographs CD has ordered for him. Is sure that EK will agree that the costs should be deducted from any profits from the sales.

Only a few copies of the photographs [for German edition of Erasmus Darwin] had been printed, so loss will not be great. CD was rather angry when he wrote [12291] "but it is all over now".

Answers EK’s questions. Sorry to report Erasmus Darwin sold only 600 copies at advance sale.

The reviews of Erasmus Darwin are mainly favourable.

Replies to EK’s queries about German translation of CD’s preface to Erasmus Darwin.

Samuel Butler’s fierce attack on CD and EK in Athenæum. CD’s sentence saying that EK had altered his Kosmos article was accidentally omitted from second proofs. Butler insinuates that EK’s attack on his book was suggested by CD or interpolated by him in EK’s text.

CD is pleased that EK will answer Butler. Thinks Butler is half insane.

CD advises EK on his proposed letter answering Butler.

Considering the favourable reviews, sale of Erasmus Darwin has been poor.

Thanks EK for kind letter.

CD’s date on epitaph is a dreadful mistake. CD often overlooks errata.

Regrets delay of photographs [for German edition of Erasmus Darwin].

Thanks EK for two articles about Erasmus Darwin.

Does not think it right that he should receive Kosmos free. Asks for a bill for subscription.

Has not heard from J. Murray if there is any profit on Erasmus Darwin, but "vehementer dubito".

Insists that EK take the profits from the English edition of Erasmus Darwin. EK’s essay is the valuable part of the book; CD’s is mainly gossip.

Bad news about Kosmos [ceasing publication].

Fritz Müller’s losses [in a flood]; "I have long looked on him as the best observer in the world."

EK’s astonishing account of crustacean that repairs its legs in an ancestral form seems to support Pangenesis, which has hardly any friends.

CD’s sons tell him that Samuel Butler in Unconscious memory states that some passages in Erasmus Darwin were taken from his Evolution, old and new. Their unprejudiced view is that the passages do come from Butler. CD hopes EK will give a clear explanation if he writes on the matter in Kosmos.

CD is taking no public notice of Butler’s attack on himself.

CD is pleased with EK’s account in Kosmos [8 (1880–1): 321–2] of the Buffon and Coleridge passage [cited by Samuel Butler, see 12939, 12969]. Would like a translation published in England, but Butler seeks notoriety and would make unscrupulous use of it. Will ask advice. Thinks EK’s letter to Popular Science Monthly, just received, an excellent reply to Butler.

Sends copy of Nature in which EK’s letter, translated by Balfour, is printed. Thanks him. Now feels easy.

G. J. Romanes’ language in his review of Butler’s book [Unconscious memory] is perhaps too strong. Butler’s vanity is a "real psychological curiosity".