Sends the Litchfields two drafts of a letter in reply to Samuel Butler’s letter to the Athenæum; hopes for their approval.

Thanks RBL for advice [concerning dispute with Samuel Butler]. Notes reaction of family.

Comments on colours of races of man. Wishes WZS "or anybody else" could account for them.

Thanks society of students at Jena for birthday congratulations.

Thanks for articles by ASW in Gardeners’ Chronicle [see 12404]. Agrees with him.

Asks about growth of rootlets from knobs caused by fungus on roots of Cruciferae.

Torbitt too poor to go on with [potato] experiments. If anything is to be done it must be by Government.

Would be glad to see RLT at Down if he thinks it fit to come there to deliver the address honouring CD.

Testimonial for S. B. J. Skertchly, stating CD’s high opinion of his work.

Speculates on origin of habit [of insects?] of laying eggs on plants of certain families.

Nature [21 (1880): 382] has an item about tremors and earth movements in Japan.

Thanks correspondent for a gift of books.