The Royal Society have returned RLT’s Nepenthes paper and will not have it read because of unfavourable reports from referees.

Sends Thiselton-Dyer’s suggestions for references to Nepenthes,

and gives his opinion on what will influence the Royal Society’s Council in considering RLT’s candidacy.

CD sends the gist of an extremely negative report from the [Royal Society’s] physiological referee on the value of RLT’s modifications of Brücke’s process for isolating pepsin [see 10470].

CD accepts membership in the Birmingham Natural History Society.

Thanks RLT for article. CD cannot quite agree that "under a theological point of view, the origin of evil is explained by survival".

Is glad RLT has not given up polydactylism.

CD has only a trifling point to make in criticism [of RLT’s excerpt from Diseases of women]: he believes "the high value of well-bred males is due to their transmitting their good qualities to a far greater number of offspring than can the female".

Thanks RLT for his work, Diseases of women.

CD is also interested by RLT’s letter reporting a cat rearing chickens. "What a wonderful instinct is the maternal one."

CD declines to write for RLT’s new journal. He is not fitted for the work and dislikes it particularly. It costs loss of time as he "cannot change with ease from one job to another".

The honour RLT proposes [Darwin Festival] is a great one, "but would it not be better to wait until I am in my grave?"

Sends copy of Kosmos [containing Krause’s article on Erasmus Darwin].

Believes he can spare an Erasmus Darwin letter.

CD thanks RLT for his two notes, a newspaper article, and a copy of RLT’s address honouring him.

Would be glad to see RLT at Down if he thinks it fit to come there to deliver the address honouring CD.

Is honoured by RLT’s announcement, and offers a contribution to the Birmingham scientific fund.

Sends £25 for the Birmingham Philosophical Society scientific fund.

Owes much to Birmingham and great honour conferred on him, but cannot write what RLT wishes.

Thanks for the birthday greetings.

"I feel a very old man and my course is nearly run."

CD will be glad to keep the proof of the medal.

He is decidedly better again.