Sends the Litchfields two drafts of a letter in reply to Samuel Butler’s letter to the Athenæum; hopes for their approval.

Advise against making any reply to Samuel Butler’s charges.

Has shown S. Butler’s Athenæum letter to Frederick Pollock, who confirms RBL’s advice that it needs no answer. Sends an imaginary response by Butler.

Thanks RBL for advice [concerning dispute with Samuel Butler]. Notes reaction of family.

WZS, 12-year-old pupil, asks where he can find answer to question of what causes different shades of colour in inhabitants of earth.

Germination of Megarrhiza. AG’s observations at variance with CD’s.

Has read Butler’s letter and CD’s draft reply and Litchfield’s letter. Has no hesitation in saying CD should take no notice. Litchfield’s advice is judicious.

Thinks Huxley’s judgment on answering S. Butler’s charges would be trustworthy, though THH is horribly pugnacious and would naturally be for fighting.

Comments on colours of races of man. Wishes WZS "or anybody else" could account for them.

Since CD has decided not to answer S. Butler’s charge, WSD will not reply either.

Will look over Francis Darwin’s lecture ["Climbing plants"] with a view to publishing it in Popular Science Review [19 (1880): 213–29].

Thinks CD has no need to reply to Samuel Butler’s hostile article [in the Athenæum]. Offers to reply himself.

Returns [Butler’s] attack, which he forgot to send yesterday.

Sends birthday wishes.

Discusses work on Medusae.

Recalls visit to Down.

Describes formation of student nature study club at the University of Jena. Sends birthday greetings from the club.

"Dia" [as a prefix] means "through, across".

WED’s wife would like to meet the Huxleys.

Birthday greetings.

Regrets Butler’s malicious attack.

Sends birthday greetings

and the good news of a subvention for the Zoological Station received from the German government. There are now 20 naturalists working at the Station.

It might be possible to borrow £500 [for potato experiments]. Variety of "The Champion" spreading over the Kingdom. Champion lately less able to produce.

Thanks society of students at Jena for birthday congratulations.

Thanks for articles by ASW in Gardeners’ Chronicle [see 12404]. Agrees with him.

Asks about growth of rootlets from knobs caused by fungus on roots of Cruciferae.