Sends forms to be signed so that the trustees of the Down Friendly Society may be properly registered.
CD has harangued the Down Friendly Club. Does not think it will dissolve.
CD’s opinion of a specimen sent by JBI from an unknown tree, and the Ross-shire tale about it.
Suggests various remedies for toothache.
Encloses his £3 subscription to JBI’s Sunday School. Asks to reduce it in the future to £2 per annum.
Has been unwell.
CD disappointed in Pusey’s sermon against evolution [Un-science, not science, adverse to faith (1878), sermon read by H. P. Liddon at St Mary’s, Oxford, on 3 Nov 1878]. Does not agree that religion and science can be kept as distant as Pusey desires. Geology and biology must deal with history of earth and of man. But that is no reason for bitter hostility.
JBI’s "barnacles" would have been extraordinary, but they are hard lichens.
Has revisited Cambridge.
Hensleigh Wedgwood has told CD that land JBI had inquired about will be sold at auction with the house [Trowmer [Tromer!?] Lodge].
CD interested in JBI’s observations of behaviour of bees. Finds his criticism about hexagonal cells made by queen wasps a good one. Cannot remember how he got out of the difficulty.
His book on worms to be published soon.
E. A. Darwin has died after short illness.
Wasps’ nest has arrived.
Gives his view of how queen wasp builds a hexagonal cell by straightening walls between several cells, which she builds at the same time.
Recommends he read passages on bees by C. T. E. von Siebold [in On the true parthenogenesis in moths and bees (1857)].
Much concerned by death of JBI’s mother.
Henrietta’s illness.
CD’s resort to [E. W. Lane’s] water-cure.
Other family news.
Etty [Henrietta Darwin] much improved.
Reference to his "hobby of striped asses".
Sceptical of JBI’s "curious stories" on spirit-tapping: "believe nothing one hears & only half of what one sees".
Going to sea-side for Etty’s health.
Asks JBI further questions about a striped donkey he had reported to CD.
Etty has had a relapse. "What the end will be, we know not."
News of Etty’s health and of neighbours.
Pleased that JBI likes Origin.
CD never expected to convert people in less than 20 years, though now convinced he is "in the main right". Bishop of Oxford’s review made "splendid fun" of him.
Delighted to have Quiz [Johnny Innes’ dog].
Arrangements for receiving Quiz.
Quiz arrived safely.
CD’s three sons are in bed with bad colds.