Note authorising James West to collect Transactions on CD’s behalf.

Instructions for forwarding a parcel and outstanding issues of Transactions due him.

THF’s article in Nature ["The fertilisation of a few papilionaceous flowers", 6 (1872): 478–80, 498–501] is extremely good.

Suspects he now has answer to why common peas and sweetpeas hardly ever intercross, a point which half drove CD mad for years.

Recommends Hermann Müller’s Die Befruchtung der Blumen [1873].

Asks THF to examine old flowers of Coronilla for holes bored by bees.

Is investigating whether drops of water injure leaves.

Thinks THF has solved the mystery of Coronilla.

Suggests a reference to Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 1 Dec 1873, p. 497, when THF takes up Coronilla.

Delighted to hear about Coronilla. Urges publication ["Fertilisation of papilionaceous flowers– Coronilla", Nature 10 (1874): 169–70].

Has read THF’s article on Coronilla [see 9400] – "a very curious case"; is troubled by C. emerus.

Thanks Council for their kindness; even if he had known that the right to reprint papers was a recognised one he would have asked the Council’s consent [before reprinting Climbing plants?].

Newspaper cutting of two side-by-side engravings of Lady Smith at the ages of 16 or 17 and 94 [pencil annotations list the former age as 25 and latter as 100 and that it was taken from the "Graphic, Feb. 24 1877"]

Photographic copy of John Opie's (1761-1807) 1798 portrait of Pleasance Smith.

[Note in pencil by Robert Kippist on reverse] received from Lady Smith 17 September 1872.

At present unable to locate [Alexander] Macleay's correspondence but when she does will send them. Thanks for portait of Macleay; in return sends photographic copy of [John] Opie's 1798 portrait of her.

Address moved by [William Jackson] Hooker and agreed at the Linnean Society anniversary meeting, congratulating Pleasance Smith on her 100th birthday.

Gives a report on a paper by Thomas Powell on coral islands ["Notes on the nature and productions of several atolls of the Tokelan, Ellice, and Gilbert Groups, South Pacific", read 15 Apr 1875, not published].

If THF and James Caird [Enclosure Commissioner] approve of enclosed letter, CD will send it to Hooker.

Believes it absurd to doubt that a man may be an ardent theist and evolutionist; gives the examples of Kingsley and Asa Gray. As regards CD’s own views, his judgement often fluctuates but "I have never been an Atheist in the sense of denying the existence of God". Thinks that "generally (and more and more as I grow older) … an Agnostic would be the most correct description of my state of mind".

Gives his opinion on four papers by J. P. M. Weale.