Thanks JC for the gift of his book [A primer of art (1882)]. Wishes JC could explain why certain lines and figures give pleasure.

Comments on Huxley’s essays on Priestley and [animal] automatism [Science and culture and other essays (1881)].

JC’s portrait [of CD] is much admired.

CD’s observations on the geology of S. Africa, which he considers of no value, were published in Volcanic islands.

Asks HWB to sign and return F.R.S. certificate for Raphael Meldola; if he objects to signing, CD will not mention the fact. [Meldola elected F.R.S., June 1886.]

CD thanks MS and his fellow German students for their kind birthday wishes.

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

Has heard that Brown is collecting subscriptions for Mrs George Cupples and so he encloses £40.

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

His Dytiscus fact interesting. Indispensable to know name of shell. Case worth communicating to Nature. [See "On the dispersal of freshwater bivalves", Nature 6 April 1882, pp. 529–30.]

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.

Instructs engraver on illustrations for his paper ["The action of carbonate of ammonia on the roots of certain plants", Collected papers 2: 236–56].

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.

RM’s application to the Royal Society.

Asks correspondent to suspend an enclosed certificate.

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 further questions about shell attached to beetle’s leg.

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.