Has read Butler’s letter and CD’s draft reply and Litchfield’s letter. Has no hesitation in saying CD should take no notice. Litchfield’s advice is judicious.

Hopes CD does not think his faith in natural selection is weak because he omitted mention of it in his lecture.

Is working on dogs. They will make a case for "Darwinismus".

Will support the petition for a pension for Wallace.

CD’s paragraph [about Wyville Thomson, see 12796] was so good that if he had written it he would have sent it to the printer, but [for CD] it is best to refrain.

THH will be at Kensington.

He has been so busy that he has let the Wallace business stand over.

Sends draft of the Wallace memorial.

Sees no use in a deputation. Suggests CD send the memorial with a letter.

Family news.

Returns [Wallace] memorial.

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

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

Gives details of his Fisheries appointment.

Astonished by Rich’s act. Has written to him.

Has heard from Haeckel the story of refusal [by Humboldt fund] of Berlin Academy to support him because he was supporter of Darwin. R. Virchow has been so unfair to Haeckel that THH is inclined to think it is a true account. But obtaining the funds in England is extremely difficult.

Hopes Anthony Rich will keep to his intention of leaving his fortune to CD, despite CD’s increased wealth.

His BAAS address at York in Nature ["The rise and progress of palaeontology" 24 (1881): 452–5].

Concern over CD’s health. Advises him to get one of the cleverer young London doctors to communicate with Andrew Clark. Only way out of difficulties with Clark.

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].

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.

Expresses his delight with and admiration for THH’s "Coming of age [of The origin of species]" in Nature [22 (1880): 1–4].

Comments on natural selection. Sometimes he can persuade himself that it is of quite subordinate importance, but so many structures have been explained by it that he can also persuade himself that every structure developed through it. Cites H. G. Bronn’s list [of structures not explicable by natural selection].

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.