F. V. Dickins feels hurt at CD’s censure of him over the Omori shell mound controversy [see Collected papers 2: 222–3]. Dickins is well educated in science and long familiar with Japan, having been editor of the Japan Mail. In Japan, E. S. Morse is considered a charlatan, and American scientists, e.g., A. Agassiz, have a low opinion of him.

Invites HNM to Down on 9 May.

Asks CD for a testimonial as he is a candidate for Chair in Zoology at Oxford.

Gives his high opinion of HNM’s abilities.

Thanks for presentation copy of Earthworms.

Describes a worm from Ceylon.

Sends a paper by Arnold von Lasaulx ["Ueber sogenannten kosmischen Staub", Mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen 3 (1880–1): 517–32. HNM does not believe in meteoric dust, which CD takes for granted in Earthworms.

Thanks CD for support in his election as Linacre Professor at Oxford.

J. Y. Buchanan, of the Challenger, says deep-sea red mud is fine because, like CD’s vegetable mould, it has been digested by worms and echinoderms.

Visited by John MacNeile Price, the son of CD’s friend from Chile, Mr Price; the son is now Surveyor General of Hong Kong.

He would support a foreigner for professorship of botany as CD suggests. W. T. Thiselton-Dyer is proposing W. C. Williamson, whom HNM considers a disaster.

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

Adds to his previous subscription for the Rolleston Memorial Fund.

Hopes HNM’s position at Oxford is satisfactory.

Thanks CD for contribution to Rolleston Fund

and for congratulations on his Professorship at Oxford.