As a believer in the existence of God from the evidence of nature, he is somewhat staggered by CD’s and Tyndall’s books. Asks CD to tell him whether the doctrine of descent of man destroys the evidence of the existence of a God looked at through natural phenomena.
Problems of continuing with his crossing experiments; financial help from CD.
Thanks for essays by ASW ["Experiments with turnip seeds", Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh 13 (1876–9): 25–39, and a short notice, "Experiments in singling turnips"] and Aegilops seed.
If THF and James Caird [Enclosure Commissioner] approve of enclosed letter, CD will send it to Hooker.
CD’s gardener says not to sow onion seeds until middle of March. Should he risk sowing them at once?
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.
JDH thanks Susan Hodgson for a letter about her husband Brian Houghton Hodgson. JDH recently dined with Sir Henry Verney, Childers & his daughter, & Mrs & Mr [William Ewart] Gladstone. He & Gladstone spoke about American & Californian trees & felling practices. JDH has also dined at the Colviles', where he bid farewell to Mrs Strachey before she leaves to join her husband [Richard Strachey] in India. Also in attendance: the Grant's, Joachin & the Huxley's. JDH & his wife [Lady Hyacinth Hooker] have been to see the Old Masters [exhibition], they left the baby [Joseph Symonds Hooker] at the Royal Society rooms with the porter's wife, much fuss was made of 'the President's baby'.
Reports on the standing of James Torbitt: "the opinion of the Public is that he is rich and highly respectable".
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.
No summary available.
No summary available.
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.
No summary available.
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.]