Is very grateful for the gift of a fender-stool. Will send her a copy of Insectivorous plants.

Thanks WCW for sending his lecture ‘The dawn of animal life’, which seems "a wonderfully clear & interesting sketch of the lower organisms".

Has told publisher to send a copy of Insectivorous plants.

Promises to propose JJW for membership in Zoological Society.

Sympathises with JJW’s enthusiasm about the Danais and hopes it may become naturalised in this country.

Thanks WCW for sending specimens. Drosera spathulata must be descended from some form like D. rotundifolia.

"If you finally succeed in proving that all languages have been developed from a common root, you will indeed have effected a most valuable piece of work."

Thinks WB’s proposal a very good one. CD could suggest two or three subjects for essays with respect to the vegetable kingdom, but they would require a long course of experiments "& unfortunately there is hardly any one in this country who seems inclined to devote himself to experiments".

The strongest argument for the existence of God is the intuitive feeling that there must have been an intelligent beginner of the universe; "but then comes the doubt and difficulty whether such intuitions are trustworthy". CD is forced to leave the problem insoluble. "No man who does his duty has anything to fear, and may hope for whatever he earnestly desires."

Passes judgment on photo of embryological interest.

Sends his autograph.

Unable to accept invitation.

Looked at leaves and saw no sign that animal matter was absorbed. Believes insects were caught only accidentally.

Thanks SW for text of his oration

and an [unspecified] article on parrots.

Until C-FR sees the whole of Erasmus Darwin, he cannot decide if it is worth translating into French.

Sends M. Guthrie’s book [On Mr Spencer’s formula of evolution (1879)], although HEL may not care to read it having seen Moulton’s letter [12350].

Thanks TTTT for his study of European spiders [On European spiders Part 1 (1869–70)] which bases its classification system on the theory of evolution.

Responds to Mivart’s Genesis of species. "I complain of his incessently speaking as if I trusted exclusively to natural selection … Mivart speaks in many places as if I entirely ignored the direct action of external conditions". Answers some of Mivart’s particular criticisms. Suggests FD read the letter to Marlborough Robert Pryor, as Pryor will never be able to read it himself.

Sends his signature.

Thanks AA for a ‘splendid case of gradation of structure’.

Asks for some pamphlets, the titles of which have been sent to him by Dr Spengel [see 8053].

Suggests Mivart should have read account of Niata Cattle.