Thanks JDH for his and Huxley’s countering of the false attack on George [Darwin] by Mivart. Encloses a note to Mivart on which he asks JDH’s opinion.

Mourns death of Lyell. Wonders whether enough men of science were attached to him to raise a fitting testimonial.

He has examined Hoya flowers with Bentham and Oliver, but they are not satisfied about the five processes alternating with the sepals. [See Forms of flowers, pp. 331–2.] Sends specimens of plants.

Babington’s surprise at JDH’s advocacy of Darwinian views at Norwich [BAAS meeting].

Criticism of the behaviour of the trustees of the British Museum [in the Challenger affair].

Plans to write an account of his trip to Morocco and, with John Ball, the botanical geography, for Linnean Society.

Results mainly negative; the Atlas exhibits "the dying out of European flora".

Only two or three beetles above 8000ft.

Disappointed that Canary Island species are absent from Atlas mountains; but an ocean current along Moroccan coast should help migration of Spanish, Portuguese, and Moroccan seeds to Canaries and Madeira.

Describes Lyell’s poor physical condition. Asks CD for his observations of symptoms.

Has come to Abinger Hall for a rest after Insectivorous plants, soon to appear. Is sick of the accursed subject.

Rejoices at [Thiselton-Dyer’s] appointment.

Solicits JDH and others at Kew for signatures to nomination of Francis Darwin for membership of Linnean Society.

Shares Hooker’s feelings about Douglas Galton and Lord Henry Lennox.

Bored with preparing new editions.

R. L. Tait has requested CD send his [Tait’s] paper on Nepenthes to Royal Society. CD considers this a nuisance.

Certificate for G. J. Romanes.

Francis’ experiments on mechanism of twisted seeds.

Has decided to send R. L. Tait’s paper to the Royal Society.

Will try glycerine on Mimosa but doubts it will have an effect.

Describes observations by his son Horace on the extreme sensitivity of twisted seeds to moisture.

Comments on R. L. Tait’s claimed isolation of digestive ferments from Nepenthes.

CD is furious at the prospect of Lankester’s being black-balled by the Linnean Society. He plans to solicit support from various members and to come up with Frank for the voting.

Promises to vote for Lankester.

Acknowledges faults of R. L. Tait’s paper.

McLachlan has as strong a claim to be F.R.S. as any entomologist, but Garrod’s work is of higher quality.

Daughter Henrietta’s illness prevents a trip to London.

CD preparing new English and German editions of his early geology [of the voyage of the Beagle] books. Asks for Hooker’s copies as he no longer has his own.

CD and family suggest inscriptions for Lyell memorial at Westminster Abbey.

CD communicating H. Airy’s paper on phyllotaxis to the Royal Society.

Frank observes pod-like emanations from glands of insectivorous plant ingesting solid insect particles [see 10520].

Returns Mrs Lyell’s versions of Lyell memorial inscription. Disapproves of religious tone.

Asa Gray’s directed variation would make natural selection superfluous.

CD has read new theological reconciliations of Darwinism and religion.