Informs ARW of favourable reception by Gladstone of memorial respecting ARW’s services to science, and the establishment of a pension for him.

Success of the memorial for Wallace. Sends letter from Gladstone.

Congratulates THH on appointment as Inspector of Fisheries.

CD expresses his great pleasure at WEG’s letter informing him that Wallace has been granted a pension.

Good news from Gladstone [concerning pension for Wallace]. Duke of Argyll’s private note greatly influenced Gladstone.

Has heard that Gladstone will recommend A. R. [Wallace] for a pension. Thanks the Duke for having written to Gladstone on the matter.

Sends photograph.

Announces the resolution passed by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s conference of 7 Jan 1881.

Congratulates CD on success of Wallace memorial.

Butler has attacked again.

CD may choose where to publish EK’s reply to Butler. Would prefer Athenæum. Thinks it better that CD not reply himself.

Appreciation of CD’s efforts in recommending him for pension. Asks about proprieties of thanking Gladstone and the signers of the memorial.

Report on the progress of his experiments with potatoes; some varieties spoilt by an apparently hereditary disease.

Thanks for CD’s offer of assistance after flood damage.

Comments on Movement in plants. Discusses sleep movements and paraheliotropism of Maranta and other plants.

Describes the fertilisation of figs by Hymenoptera.

On the proprieties of thanking Gladstone and the signers of the memorial.

All his advisers agree that CD ought not to take notice of Butler’s attack.

F. M. Balfour has offered to translate EK’s reply to Butler and to send it to Nature. [The letter was published in Nature 23 (1881): 288.]

Sends proofs of lectures he intends to reprint as a book [The Bible and science (1881)]; asks CD if he would check one for errors.

Wants a letter of introduction to Joseph Fayrer.

Letter of introduction for Montagu Lubbock.

Asks whether sheep and cattle grazing on a steep slope move across the slope horizontally or ascend it.

Discusses allegation [about Erasmus Darwin] made by Samuel Butler. Will value LS’s verdict highly.

Thanks for news about Wallace memorial; excellent names on it give hope of success.

Mentions Alfred Haddon, an acquaintance of hers who might call on CD.