Unable to comment on F. Lloyd’s criticism of Francis Galton’s Hereditary genius [?A scientific view of Mr Galton’s theories of heredity (1876)].

Sorry about Lloyd’s health.

Does not care much about abuse or fame, an advantage of age.

Thanks for the letter from Volney Rattan [see 12553].

Discusses protective adaptation of seedlings from frost.

Gives advice regarding a house.

May CD’s son send some bottles of water, in which Pelargonium leaves have been immersed, for more precise analysis of the potassium or other soluble ash? Can EF recommend a professional analyst to take on further experiments?

Glad to receive the German edition of Erasmus Darwin. Hopes sales will be good. Favourable review has appeared in the United States, in the Nation.

Thanks correspondent for writing, "but such malconformations, as you mention, are not very rare & therefore do not possess much novelty".

MS of Movement in plants in final stage. Fears it will displease many German physiologists. It is an attempt to bring all the diversified movements of plants under one general law or system.

Forgot he owned vol. 1 of Hermann Engelhard von Nathusius’s Vorträge über Viehzucht und Raßenkenntniss (Nathusius 1872–80). Please to send vol. 2 when convenient.

Thanks for the interesting case of inheritance.

Invites HNM to Down on 9 May.

Requests a copy of Ray Lankester’s lecture or essay on degeneration (Lankester, E. Ray. 1880. Degeneration: A chapter in Darwinism. London: Macmillan.).

Hopes that Lankester will come stay next Sunday. Clark, Galton and Moseley will also be there.

Expresses his delight with and admiration for THH’s "Coming of age [of The origin of species]" in Nature [22 (1880): 1–4].

Thanks for information.

Forwards John Lubbock’s letter and hopes WED might influence the men "for the sake of science".

Cannot offer any assistance in urging Government to aid JT’s experiments. Thinks best chance through [William Edward?] Forster. William Carruthers reported to Royal Agricultural Society that JT’s attempt was hopeless.

Comments on natural selection. Sometimes he can persuade himself that it is of quite subordinate importance, but so many structures have been explained by it that he can also persuade himself that every structure developed through it. Cites H. G. Bronn’s list [of structures not explicable by natural selection].

Invites JF to Down.

Lends BJS Titus Coan’s Adventures in Patagonia [1880].

Thanks him for copies of the missionary journal.

Thanks GC for having sent his book [La teoria di Darwin criticamente esposta (1880)].