Agrees to write to William Ogle [about twins with crooked fingers].

Describes growth of sweetpeas for experiment.

Thanks FG for issues of Revue [Scientifique vol. 7, containing lectures by Claude Bernard].

Ogle says twins [with crooked fingers] are his sisters.

Recommends book by M. A. Puvis [De la dégénération des variétés de végétaux (1837)].

Has heard that FG will write on inheritance. Huxley does not believe in E. G. Balbiani’s views on subject.

In London yesterday for Vivisection Commission.

Is revising his chapter on Pangenesis [in Variation, 2d ed.] to allow that gemmules probably multiply in the reproductive organs.

Notes examples of inheritance of acquired characteristics cited by Brown-Séquard.

Doubts that double parentage is necessary for complex organisations.

Comments on FG’s paper ["A theory of heredity"]. Finds essay difficult to understand. Objects that FG’s theory conflicts with phenomenon of use and disuse. Conflicts also with rarity of bud-variations in nature.

Says he has ordered FG’s article ["The history of twins", Fraser’s Mag. 92 (1875): 566–76; revised in J. Anthropol. Inst. 5 (1876): 391–406].

Comments on FG’s paper ["The history of twins"].

CD is "in a passion with the Spectator who always muddles".

Mentions revisions [in Variation, 2d ed.].

Argues with FG’s theory of heredity, defending Pangenesis: "I cannot doubt that every unit of the hybrid is hybridised and sends forth hybridised gemmules."

Thanks JS for Sensation and intuition [1874]. Regrets that it was not published earlier, so he could have profited by some of the discussions.

Sends signed enclosure.

FG will hear of germination of peas in a few days.

Has received French essay on effects of conscription on [decreasing] height of men, due to unfit left at home to propagate race. Would FG care to see it?

Can FG come to lunch on Sunday? George Darwin wants to meet him.

Comments on manuscript [? "On slaty cleavage", J. Geol. Soc. Lond. 5 (1849): 111–29]. Discusses phenomenon of cleavage. Will write to J. D. Forbes about DS’s paper.

Sends enclosure regarding inherited handwriting from Life, letters, and journals of George Ticknor [ed. G. S. Hillard (1876)].

CD submits his paper ["A biographical sketch of an infant", Collected papers 2: 191–200] for possible publication.

CD is gratified that GCR thinks "Sketch of an infant" [Collected papers 2: 191–200] worth publishing. Returns corrected proofs. Assures GCR he took pains to observe carefully.

Has no objection to the flattering wish of the Cologne Gazette [to publish a translation of "Sketch of an infant", Collected papers 2: 191–200], but wishes the editor had first read the article. Still doubts it was worthy of admission to Mind.

Can FG come to lunch on Monday?

Sorry FG has not been well and is soon going abroad.

Describes plans to publish English edition of Krause’s work on Erasmus Darwin.

Will correct Anna Seward’s calumnies [in Memoirs of the life of Dr Darwin (1804)].

Asks about family letters.

Doubts some stories about Erasmus Darwin [in Christiana C. Hankin, ed., Life of Mary Anne Schimmelpenninck (1858)].

Parcel of drawings and MS arrived safely.

Thanks FG for an extract [about Dr Erasmus Darwin?].