News of Great Western Railway dividend; discussion of Leonard Darwin’s ‘exciting news’.

Thanks CD for an article [unspecified].

CD and other friends who got up fund for GA in 1879 have now bought him a microscope; thanks CD, especially as the idea came from him; plans to take up original observations with it.

According to John Gwyn Jeffreys’ book [British conchology (1862–9)] shell is Sphaerium corneum, a synonym of Cyclas cornea.

Concern over CD’s health. Advises him to get one of the cleverer young London doctors to communicate with Andrew Clark. Only way out of difficulties with Clark.

In a forthcoming lecture GCW will dispute Haeckel on Protista and his statement that spontaneous generation is necessary to complete evolution as a doctrine. Wishes to confirm his understanding that CD has nowhere expressed himself on the "origin of life", and has considered only the manner of succession.

Formal letter of thanks for contribution to Mrs C. T. Beke.

Believes heterostyly could be produced by artificial selection.

Apologises for not having answered CD’s letters of 19 December [13564] and 4 January [13599] sooner.

Gives the results of his crossing experiments with Pontederia (Eichhornia) crassipes and P. azurea. Has also begun experiments on Heteranthera reniformis.

Thanks CD for sending three parts of the first volume of Bentham and Hooker’s Genera plantarum.

Has forwarded some plants of Nitella opaca. Has observed their struggle for existence for several years in the gravel-pit pools at Mitcham.

Is trying to get some cobra poison for CD.

Reminds CD of three cards JLA sent in February for CD to sign and date and write his good wishes on.

Solicits CD’s subscription to the Rolleston Memorial Fund, which will be used for a post-graduate prize at Oxford and Cambridge.

Thanks CD for contribution to Rolleston Fund

and for congratulations on his Professorship at Oxford.

Sends fact about earthworms.

A friend once "caught" an oyster while fishing, which confirms CD’s note ["On the dispersal of freshwater bivalves", Collected papers 2: 276–8].

Sends more Trifolium resupinatum.

In France as in England there is indignation at the insults Decaisne suffered in the last years of his life.

Charles Martins has lost his Professorship at Montpellier.