CD cannot see the Emperor of Brazil because he is in Southampton, but he sends sincere respects for the Emperor’s role in assisting science.

Forms of flowers will soon be published and is not a long book.

Does not suppose he will publish any more books, "though perhaps a few more papers". He "cannot endure being idle, but Heaven knows whether I am capable of any more good work".

Erratum JVC sent was due to a printer’s error after he had seen last proofs.

Sends a query he would like GHD to put to Clerk Maxwell: why does a sponged leaf dry more rapidly, although sponging cannot remove the waxy bloom from the minute pores through which it is secreted?

Is very glad to hear about tides in the earth.

Has no objection to the flattering wish of the Cologne Gazette [to publish a translation of "Sketch of an infant", Collected papers 2: 191–200], but wishes the editor had first read the article. Still doubts it was worthy of admission to Mind.

Asks permission for French translation [of "Biographical sketch of an infant"].

Advises correspondent on adopting a career; "each person shd. follow his natural bent & improve his special abilities".

Strongly recommends study of J. S. Mill’s Logic.

His own zeal for science was most stimulated by Herschel’s Introduction to the study of natural philosophy.

Asks for a copy [of an unknown item] to be sent to Down.

Thanks OB for his work on Schopenhauer [Arthur Schopenhauer. Beitrag zu einer Dogmatik der Religionslosen (1877)]

and for his remarks on bees and clover. When CD spoke, last spring, of the few seeds produced by red clover, he supposed it was due to rarity of humble-bees.

CD interested in EK’s argument against belief that sense of colour has been recently acquired by man. Describes his observations of the difficulty his own children had in distinguishing, or naming, colours.

Adds that it appeared to him the gustatory sense of his children, when young, differed from that of grown-up persons.

Has not heard from Appleton about an American edition [of Forms of flowers]. Asks how many copies Murray is printing.

As AE hardly admits evolution, they view all subjects differently.

Thanks for review. Fears "we must agree to differ".

Health weak. Not worth TM’s time to visit.

Thanks him for his book [Du Darwinisme ou l’homme singe (1877)] and letter.

Thanks AD-P for plates [from Arnold and Carolina Dodel-Port, Atlas der Botanik (1878–83)]. Will be useful to all who teach botany.

Discusses inheritance.

Has WP heard of Douglas Spalding’s experiments of blindfolding chickens ["Instinct – with original observations on young animals", Rep. BAAS 42 (1872): 141–3]?

Asks for advice on how to care for previously sent species.

Occurrence of "bloom".

CD admires Herbert Spencer’s genius but not his "deductive style" of expression.

EK may publish a translation [of "Sketch of an infant"] if he wishes, but CD hardly thinks it deserves the honour.

Glad to hear that Kosmos succeeds fairly well; has found several articles interesting.

Thanks GB for corrections to chapter on cleistogamic flowers [Forms of flowers].

Asks for his opinion on "bloom"-producing plants in different climates.

Thanks for offprints [of "Sketch of an infant", Collected papers 2: 191–200]. Several Germans have asked permission to translate it.