Quickening of heart-beat in fear. A. H. Garrod does not think that this means that the heart is working harder.

A. H. Garrod on relationship of heart-beat to amount of work done by heart.

Thanks him for interesting letter from a Mr Wood on heredity in fruit-trees.

CW’s article responding to Mivart [see 8351] on the fixity of species is very clear.

On evolution of language, CD doubts W. D. Whitney’s claim that changes are effected by the will of man. Asks CW when a thing may properly be said to be so effected.

Thanks CD for criticisms of his paper; explains why there is greater diversity among succeeding generations than in the first.

Thanks her for drawing of dog.

Will need to see proofs of his drawings.

Flattered to be mentioned in introduction to Expression [p. 26].

Thanks WALM for having sent interesting publications, especially the one on relation of structure of man to lower animals,

and just a few days since, on protuberances on bird skulls. WALM’s facts on the latter subject have an important bearing on the acquisition of sexual characters. CD is pleased that the influence of sexual selection is admitted.

On leaf arrangement. [Badly damaged and almost illegible.]

Will do what he can for Lord Sackville Cecil, but he, himself, cannot get to séances when he likes. Introduction of a stranger always disturbs séances. Person most likely to help would be Lord Lindsey.

Messrs Clowes have received MS of Expression. JM submits specimen pages for CD’s approval.

Sends CD a copy of the memorial supporting Hooker’s case against A. S. Ayrton’s interference in the administration of Kew Gardens.

AT is trying to publish his paper with important evidence on "the pluvial period".

Agrees to read paper; warns he lacks mathematical knowledge.

Proposes calling on CD with Prof. Wrightson of Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester.

Asks recipient to send parcels to his brother, Erasmus Alvey Darwin, at 6 Queen Anne Street, London, and not to Down.

Expresses his "unbounded admiration" for HS’s article on Martineau ["Mr Martineau on evolution", Contemp. Rev. 20 (1872): 141–54]

and his article on sociology [Contemp. Rev. 19 (1872): 701–18]. CD never believed in the reigning influence of great men on the world’s progress but could not have given his reasons. "Now every one with eyes to see and ears to hear . . . ought to bow their knee to you, as I for one do."

O. N. Rood sends two copies of an amusing picture by T. F. Beard, "The young Darwinian" to AG, who forwards one to CD.

CD has been elected a Foreign Member of the Magyar Tudományos Akademia [Hungarian Academy of Sciences].

Thanks for his election to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.