Regrets he is unwilling to join [Epping Forest Field Club], but encloses a guinea to aid with their preliminary expenses.

Asks THH to advise him about a response to Samuel Butler’s attack accusing CD of dishonesty. Quotes the advice of others but will do what THH advises.

Greatly relieved by THH’s letter [advising against a reply to Samuel Butler].

Thanks for the honour conferred upon him by the Epping Forest Field Club.

Is in town and will call on Sunday morning.

Sorry he missed THH’s lecture ["The coming of age of The origin of species", Royal Institution, 9 Apr 1880]. Has read press notices and heard from his children of its great success.

Has read THH’s review of Sir Wyville Thomson’s [Introduction to the] Voyage of the "Challenger".

Sends a draft of a letter for Nature [Collected papers 2: 223–4]. He particularly asks THH to decide whether he should include a certain paragraph [see ML 1: 389].

Sends draft of memorial for a pension for Wallace with suggested names of signers. Asks THH’s help.

Huxley has persuaded JDH that the Wallace memorial may not be hopeless; JDH still has misgivings about Wallace’s spiritualism but will follow CD’s and Huxley’s decision.

Is glad that Hooker will sign memorial for Wallace’s pension. Had thought it hopeless because Hooker objected to ARW’s spiritualism and his bet on the sphericity of the globe.

Asks to see THH on Thursday or Friday to hear about the Wallace affair.

Thinks Wallace memorial should not be presented to Lord Aberdare, nor to Owen, for signature, but will follow THH’s wishes.

Has asked Hooker to sign the Wallace memorial and send it on to THH.

Read splendid lecture by THH on evolution in the Times ["On the application of the laws of evolution to the arrangement of the Vertebrata and more particularly of the Mammalia", Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. (1880): 649–62].

Has obtained signatures for the memorial. Wonders whether Gladstone would see a deputation and offers to write to Gladstone instead. Asks THH’s advice.

Returns [Wallace] memorial.

Hopes to be able to send classification paper soon. [See 12935.]

Success of the memorial for Wallace. Sends letter from Gladstone.

Congratulates THH on appointment as Inspector of Fisheries.

Congratulates CD on success of Wallace memorial.

Butler has attacked again.

Asks THH to sign a certificate of nomination to Geological Society for his son William, if an interest in geology is still enough to qualify for election.

Has signed William Darwin’s certificate of nomination to Geological Society.

Gives details of his Fisheries appointment.

CD tells how it came about that Anthony Rich bequeathed his house and land to THH.