Hasty note to express his most decided opinion that letter [to Q. Rev.] should not give a sketch of GHD’s essay – only an explicit denial "& do not allude to me".

Comments on bees.

Praises TB’s The naturalist in Nicaragua.

Apologises for delay, but is away from home; has sent telegraph.

Francis Darwin is abroad on his honeymoon and unable to respond to GEP’s offer of a medical position.

Has no objection to sending GHD’s letter as it is. The only accusation it seems necessary to rebut is about licentiousness. Regrets this is not made more prominent.

Gives some suggestions for GHD’s reply to Mivart’s attack.

Approves of GHD’s letter [to Q. Rev. 137 (1874): 587–9] and his present plan, which removes all CD’s objections. Will make his own letter to Murray less imperious. "It will be a dreadful evil to me, if … we come to a quarrel."

CD has not received the proofs [of JT’s Belfast address to BAAS].

Wishes JT were through with Belfast [meeting of BAAS, 1874]. CD cannot imagine surviving such a week of excitement.

Returns proofs [of JT’s Belfast address, Rep. BAAS 44 (1874): lxvi–xcvii]. Gratified by what it says about his work and is anxious to read the whole address; it is a grand subject.

States his indebtedness to and admiration for Humboldt and his work.

It is splendid how Nepenthes is behaving. Drosera and Dionaea are insignificant by comparison.

Takes rather a malicious pleasure in JDH’s failure with Cephalotus as a match to his with Utricularia.

Glad to hear about sticky fluid on leaves. WCM need not bother to count leaves.

Lady Dorothy Nevill has no Dionaea.

CD anxious to talk with JDH about Utricularia.

Describes his observations on Utricularia montana.

Asks JDH to cut a bit of root from old Utricularia and bring it with him to Down.

Thanks for sending papers by Hermann Hoffmann.

Discusses spiral cells in Drosera and Pinguicula.

Comments on digestive action of pepsin and hydrochloric acid.

Photograph of Rubens’ picture has not arrived.

JL’s two articles in Nature ["Common wild flowers", 10 (1874): 402–6, 422–6].

Cautions against C. K. Sprengel’s notion of bees’ being deceived by nectarless nectary.

Colour of calyces.

Returns copy of Botanische Zeitung.

Responds to comments on Drosera.

Queries about species of Utricularia.

The Aldrovanda has arrived. Has examined the leaves. It is an aquatic Dionaea which has acquired some structures identical to those of Utricularia!

Thanks JDH for extract on Hedychium pollination; it shows CD’s prior interpretation was incorrect.