Writes regarding the form which the proposed Science Defence Association should take and encloses a draft of proposed resolutions.

Asks JT to support Albert Dicey for the Athenaeum.

Asks WBC for his vote and influence in favour of Albert Dicey at the Athenaeum balloting.

CD feels "as old as Methusalem".

Birthday congratulations.

Describes his use of alcohol and tobacco.

Agrees with TLB’s views regarding the constitution of the proposed Science Defence Association.

Asks for autographs.

Has found a Dytiscus marginalis with a small bivalve attached to its leg.

F. M. Balfour slept well; doctors think he is improving.

Has rarely read anything more interesting than WO’s introduction to his Aristotle translation. Had no notion what a wonderful man Aristotle was. Linnaeus and Cuvier were mere schoolboys compared to him. His ignorance on some points, as on muscles and the means of movement, is curious.

Slab with fossil annelid tracks safely arrived.

Describes his collections and research on Brazilian insects, especially Orthoptera. Comments on insect phylogeny.

Thanks CD for note on his book on the sense of beauty [A primer of art (1882)].

Views of Huxley and Spencer on consciousness.

Has sent last week’s Nature wth J. S. Newberry’s paper ["Hypothetical high tides", Nature 25 (1882): 357–8]. CD thinks Newberry is right. This week’s issue has a letter against Newberry by Charles Callaway ["Letters to the editor: hypothetical high tides", Nature 25 (1882): 385].

The Archbishop of Canterbury has launched a series by scientists in the Contemporary Review on what is known and what is theoretical in science. [The series appears to have begun with an article by Robert S. Ball, "The boundaries of astronomy", 41 (1882): 923–41]. CD was asked to participate, but refused.

Has identified the shell, now separated from the beetle. Sends both to CD.

F. M. Balfour getting on better in hospital.

Asks for CD’s opinion on certain theistic ideas. If spontaneous generation from inorganic material is denied, then life must be derived from some eternal being.

Thanks CD for helping to get him elected to the Athenaeum.

Encloses MS on sexual selection acting on street dogs of Beirut [MS of "On the modification of a race of Syrian street dogs", Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 25 (1882): 367–70, published with a prefatory notice by CD.

Comments on James Geikie’s ["Intercrossing of erratics", Scottish Naturalist 6 (1882): 193–200, 241–54]. Believes JG underrates importance of floating ice in explaining drift deposits.

Comments on origin of life and natural theology.

Recommends William Graham’s The creed of science [1881].