Encloses draft bill about vivisection; CD and friends may have influence enough to get it introduced in Commons or Lords; TA and the Cruelty Society do not. The Society, however, can pay for preparation of bill.

Agrees that CD should write to Lord Derby to say that a bill on animal experimentation was being prepared and that the government should not comment at this stage. [See 9933.] Ridicules the idea of using inspectors. Distinguishes between dissection and vivisection.

Is sending some seeds of sweetpeas, which George [Darwin] said CD would plant for him.

Sends CD his latest treatise, in which he discusses the origin of life ["Über die Physiologische Verbrennung in den lebendigen Organismen", Arch. Gesammte Physiol. 10 (1875): 251–367].