Comments on GJR’s lecture on evolution.

Regrets failure of graft experiments.

Hopes GJR will not give up on Pangenesis. Mentions article by Gustav Jäger on Pangenesis.

Working hard on physiology of plants.

His son George sees no reason to change his view on marriage of cousins.

George’s astronomical work is too deep for CD.

Is obliged to JAWM for the honour done in sending CD his Der Kreislauf des Lebens (1877).

Thanks RAV for valuable letter [11232]. CD too ignorant of anatomy to form a decided opinion, but is inclined to attribute spiral folds to reversion and the valves to partial abortion of the fold. Asks RAV to verify by examining lower intestine of an opossum for the structure. If missing he would hesitate to allude to reversion. If RAV can prove the nature of these remnants it would be a conclusion of much interest.

Discusses planting onions for experiment.

Reports on the flowering and growth of a branch of Echeveria stolonifera.

"Many thanks for the specimens which will be very useful whenever a new Edition is required."

Sends corrected sheets of Cross and self-fertilisation. How many copies will be printed? Asks whether he is correct in thinking that he has not been paid for the July printing.

Plans to correct Forms of flowers when new edition is needed.

Thanks him for sending his Birds of Connecticut.

Would like the letters from grandfather [Erasmus Darwin] to J. A. H. Reimarus to be published.

Thanks for letter about beet. Will strike out statement about it in MS of new edition of Forms of flowers.

Expresses his gratitude and admiration for AK’s and M. G. Retzius’s Studien in der Anatomie des Nervensystems und des Bindegewebes (2 vols. 1875–6).

Such honours as proposal for election to Institut affect CD very little.

GdeS’s idea that dicotyledonous plants were not developed until sucking insects evolved is a splendid one. The suggestion that fertilisation of the surviving members of the most ancient dicotyledons should be studied is a good one. CD hopes GdeS will keep it in mind.

Thanks JVC for a correction [for 3d German edition of Variation]. He is the most accurate translator that ever lived.

Asks for the wing of a goose said to have transmitted effects of an injury by hereditary descent.

Cannot allow WCM to pay extra charge for glass. Rooms all very comfortable.

Thanks AG for his kindness in sending his valuable work [Les enchaînements du monde animal vol. 1 (1878)].

"If you finally succeed in proving that all languages have been developed from a common root, you will indeed have effected a most valuable piece of work."

Reports, as treasurer, on the financial position of the Club.