Discusses the arrangements being made to present a gift to Huxley [see 8872].

Is convinced that the "brotherly spirit of the transaction" will cause Huxley not to raise objections.

W. G. Armstrong and T. H. Farrer have both contributed [to the Huxley fund].

Sends JT the list and amounts subscribed for Huxley. It will probably amount to £1800. He will write to Huxley and use every argument he can to make him accept.

George Henslow is worse. All plans to go abroad have been given up. James Paget’s diagnoses enclosed.

Thanks CD for his kind letter about The fair haven [1873]. Encouraged by its reception. All he wants is to compel "an attitude of fixed attention in the place of cowardly shrinking from examination". Says he will try "a novel pure and simple with little ""purpose"" next".

It is Huxley’s "duty to do what we wish him to do – his duty to his wife and children, his duty to us and to the world". Shares CD’s wish that Mrs [Henry] L[yell?] had not subscribed – it suggests the idea of an effort.

Sends 15 studies in expression, acted by his wife.

Describes David Ferrier’s experiments on electrical brain stimulation of animals; these show direct relation between convolutions of the brain and groups of muscles [West Riding Asylum Med. Rep. (July 1873)].

"Try only 1 or 2 drops of Formic A[cid]."

Photographs sent by JC-B show great power of acting.

David Ferrier’s researches sound wonderful. Does he believe that he excites an idea and this leads to the movement, or that he acts directly on the motor nerves?

Fears all the seeds are dead. Will try with less vapour of formic acid.

The Huxley fund amounts to £1955. CD trembles about THH’s answer.

Left the Garibaldi at Rio de Janeiro.

Phylogeny of aphids.

Writes of his extreme interest in WBC’s article ["On the hereditary transmission of acquired psychical habits", Contemp. Rev. 21 (1873): 779–95].

[Sir Joseph?] Whitworth’s contribution brings total to over £2000. Wishes CD could be persuaded to come to lunch with Huxley and Emerson.

Sends leaves of Dionaea with insect prey in them. Size of insects captured may be affected by leaves not being fully grown.

Is overwhelmed by generosity of his friends. Admits he felt morally beaten and without energy for first time in his life. Someday wants the names of the friends.

Lady Lyell has died of typhoid.

Herbert Spencer is anxious to know about the state of affairs [fund for Huxley].

Edinburgh Review article [review of Expression, Edinburgh Rev. 137 (1873): 492–528] is "a thoroughly nasty unfair review as ever I read".

A circular letter forwarding to subscribers a copy of Huxley’s letter of thanks [8873].

Sends Huxley’s "charming letter". Asks whether it should be sent to Lady Millicent Jones. CD is "so happy about the whole affair".