Believes letter from CD endorsed by JDH will virtually guarantee Government or private support for Torbitt’s experiments. Queries experimental procedure.

Caird agrees that there will be no difficulty in getting finances.

Asks CD to explain why there are hermaphrodites.

Intends to translate Origin and Descent into Bohemian to be published at Prague; asks CD’s permission to do so.

Has returned letter to Caird and dispatched corrected letter to Hooker [11406] [concerning potato experiments].

The strongest argument for the existence of God is the intuitive feeling that there must have been an intelligent beginner of the universe; "but then comes the doubt and difficulty whether such intuitions are trustworthy". CD is forced to leave the problem insoluble. "No man who does his duty has anything to fear, and may hope for whatever he earnestly desires."

Sends JDH a letter he has written supporting James Torbitt’s potato trials.

T. H. Farrer and James Caird think it would be less trouble to get subscription from rich agriculturists than from Government. CD thinks it utopian to hope to raise variety of potatoes from seed; must be propagated from tubers.

Has written to Farrer in support of Torbitt’s grant.

Resistance of Liberian coffee to "fly" and susceptibility to fungus.

Sends FS some specimens of harvesting ants along with the observations of their habits made by Mary Treat. If the facts are new, he believes that Mrs Treat would be gratified by their being mentioned before the Entomological Society. [See 11422.]

Sends MS of his paper, "On the coloration of flowers and fruits", filling a gap in CD’s theory relating to these structures, and asks for CD’s comments.

Plans a book on colour sense.

Hooker approves of Torbitt’s plan [concerning potato experiments]. Torbitt, wine and spirit merchant in Belfast, highly respectable.

Authorises publication of a Bohemian edition of Origin.

Thanks CD for specimens of, and curious facts on, the "harvesting ant".

CD gives his opinion on how the physiological laboratory at Kew should be equipped. It would be a pity if the laboratory were not supplied with as many good instruments as their funds could provide.

Talk of a subscription to help JT’s experiments. Progress of experiment; loss of fungus-resistance in varieties as they age.

On germination of wheat.

Can supply Drosera if CD wants some.

Potato crossing experiments. Encloses printed copies of letters from people who have grown his potato seed.

Thanks CD for his kind reply. JG does not feel he can rely on instinct or "intuition" in relation to existence of God. Is there no analogy between natural organisations and mechanical constructions to justify an intelligent first cause?

Thanks for second lot of Aegilops seed.