Is glad to hear that Hermann Müller approves of D’AWT’s translation of his work [Die Befruchtung der Blumen (1873)]; he hopes a publisher may be found for a work of such high value.
Discusses possible case of inherited memory involving Pompilus. Cites similar example of electric eel.
Orders two bottles of "the simple Antispasmodic" and "the Glycerin Pepsin mixture". Andrew Clark wishes him to commence his physic at once.
Asks JDH to read the enclosed Memorial, sign it, and send it to T. H. Huxley.
"Dia" [as a prefix] means "through, across".
WED’s wife would like to meet the Huxleys.
JL’s sentence about glaciation will do excellently. Is glad JL thought about dimorphism of butterflies.
Repeats extracts of a letter received from Bishop Stirling’s daughter containing anecdotes and observations of the Fuegian natives.
Will stay until London until after the Linnean Society meeting unless CD wants anything. Asks to send abstracts of papers. Has made short abstracts of papers for Nature.
Explains delay in printing proofs [of Movement in plants?].
On the disease-resisting qualities and yield of certain potatoes.
Asks him to visit.
Wants some more rubber bands for his wrist.
Thanks for CD’s letter, and further discussion of the sale of Tromer Lodge.
Requests a list of books.
Arrangements regarding HD’s allowances.
Encloses extracts from the correspondence of [the Ven. Robert] Clive concerning Erasmus Darwin.
Discusses possible investments.
Asks CD for reference to the edition of Kosmos that contains the original of Ernst Krause’s article on Dr Erasmus Darwin. There are serious differences between the translation by W. S. Dallas and the Feb [1879] article by Krause on which CD, in the preface to Erasmus Darwin, says it was based. SB notes in particular that the concluding sentence of the translation, which is clearly aimed at [SB’s] Evolution, old and new, is not in the original. Since readers will assume the text of Erasmus Darwin was written before his book appeared, SB asks for an explanation.
Having reviewed the history of the Glen Roy debate ["On the origin of the parallel roads of Lochaber, and their bearing on other phenomena of the glacial period", Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 170 (1880): 663–776], JP wishes to know whether it is accurate to say CD has abandoned the marine theory.
Concerning subscriptions raised for Torbitt’s experiments on potato disease.
Comments on CD’s latest book [Movement in plants].
