Thanks for Movement in plants. Praises the terms CD introduces, but criticises CD’s use of the teleological word "purpose".

Outlines his efforts to study the inheritance of characters in his family. F. Galton overemphasises the inheritance of good qualities.

Sends address of A. R. Wallace. Comments on Wallace’s pension.

[Ernst Krause’s] letter to Nature ["Unconscious memory – Mr Samuel Butler", 23 (1881): 288] has been dispatched.

Gladstone has dated Wallace’s pension from last July, "which is splendid".

Glad WB has arrived in Brazil. Suggests study of insects and study of fertilisation in Melastomataceae. Want of books is not a serious evil.

Discusses JHF’s investigations of animals’ sense of direction. Suggests experiment involving magnetism.

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.

Thanks CD for writing for papers to enter Geological Society. Will return Leslie Stephen’s letter. Has had a severe frost. Emma’s puppy died.

Describes difficulty of obtaining pigs for experiment.

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

Gives details of his Fisheries appointment.

Thanks AdeC for interesting letter. CD has been annoyed by the multitude of new terms lately invented in all branches of biology in Germany. What AdeC says about the word "purpose" made CD vow not to use it again, but it is difficult to cure oneself of a vicious habit and difficult to avoid for anyone who tries to make out the use of a structure.

Francis will write about the diagram [see 13642].

Writes of WED’s certificate for the Geological Society

and discusses various instances of earthworm activity.

Asks WSD to suspend the enclosed certificate.

Apologises for his silence when Francis Darwin’s paper was read at the Linnean Society.

AG’s review of Movement in plants [Nation 32 (1881): 17–18].

Has read with interest GJR’s review [of Samuel Butler, Unconscious memory (1880)] in Nature [23 (1880–1): 285–7]. Heroic of GJR to call down [Butler’s] revenge on his own head. Ernst Krause’s letter [Nature 23 (1880–1): 288] very good.

As magistrate, CD must enforce rules regarding infection in pigs.

Thanks FMB for translation of Ernst Krause’s letter for Nature.

Thanks for AG’s reviews [of Movement in plants] in the Journal and Nation [Am. J. Sci. 3d ser. 21 (1881): 245–9 and Nation 32 (1881): 17–18], especially for AG’s comment about Frank Darwin.

Sends copy of Nature in which EK’s letter, translated by Balfour, is printed. Thanks him. Now feels easy.

G. J. Romanes’ language in his review of Butler’s book [Unconscious memory] is perhaps too strong. Butler’s vanity is a "real psychological curiosity".

Further information about the pension with particular thanks to CD for his role.

Discusses his election to the Geological Society, worm researches, GHD’s travels, investments,G J Romanes on Samuel Butler, the snow, politics.

Discusses investments,

earthworms,

and an article by Romanes [see 13029].