Can Alphonse de Candolle see CD?

Asa Gray at Kew; will meet JDH in Italy in December.

Praise for Movement in plants, lately arrived.

Praise for Wallace’s Island life

and astonishment that he could be a spiritualist.

Differs with Wallace on age of SW. Australian flora. JDH ascribes its peculiarities to isolation by an inland sea.

Admires Wallace’s Island life.

Criticises: 1. His view of similar plants on distant mountains – CD prefers previous low-land connections to Wallace’s summit–summit dispersal;

2. Source of warmth for ancient Arctic climate;

3. Origin of S. Australian flora.

CD’s favourite cases in Movement in plants.

Huxley has persuaded JDH that the Wallace memorial may not be hopeless; JDH still has misgivings about Wallace’s spiritualism but will follow CD’s and Huxley’s decision.

Wants to see Frank become F.R.S. before he dies.

Pities Wallace and wants a pension for him very much.

Quality of Frank’s work merits F.R.S., but quantity could defer speedy election. Will advise best strategy.

Responds, with some embarrassment, to JDH’s caution on Frank’s F.R.S. prospects.

Wants to propose Frank for F.R.S. now, with election in 1882.

Thanks for agreeing to propose Frank as F.R.S.

Would have enjoyed discussing Island life.

On Wallace’s pension and Frank’s F.R.S.

Asks JDH to read the enclosed Memorial, sign it, and send it to T. H. Huxley.