Is sorry JDH cannot come to Down.

Hopes the House of Lords "pitch into the accursed fellow" [Ayrton].

Thanks for information on sexual colours in pigeons.

Will send latest edition of Origin.

Comments on drawings of hostile dog and affectionate dog.

Sends small gift of money.

Please to send to Briton Riviere the block with the drawing of the dog, and a new block of the same size.

Sends £35 as his subscription towards the building of a vicarage.

Comments on migration as a factor in evolution. Suggests pamphlet by August Weismann on the subject [Über den Einfluss der Isolierung (1872)].

Agrees to contribute £10 towards a new road in the area of Beckenham, although he doubts whether the road will be of much use to him.

Discusses books about cats and crosses in cats. Thanks her for her book on cats.

Agrees to care for FG’s rabbits and will breed from them.

Plans to go to Southampton for ten days.

Invites correspondent to dinner and overnight the next Friday, and gives directions at length from London to Down. "I have heard from Mr Litchfield that you are in London … will you give us the pleasure of seeing you here".

Comments on drawing of dog. Will get it engraved [see Expression, pp. 52, 53].

Will send MS of Expression to printers next week.

Send parcel to Orpington station.

Thanks him for interesting letter from a Mr Wood on heredity in fruit-trees.

CW’s article responding to Mivart [see 8351] on the fixity of species is very clear.

On evolution of language, CD doubts W. D. Whitney’s claim that changes are effected by the will of man. Asks CW when a thing may properly be said to be so effected.

Thanks her for drawing of dog.

Thanks WALM for having sent interesting publications, especially the one on relation of structure of man to lower animals,

and just a few days since, on protuberances on bird skulls. WALM’s facts on the latter subject have an important bearing on the acquisition of sexual characters. CD is pleased that the influence of sexual selection is admitted.

Agrees to read paper; warns he lacks mathematical knowledge.

Expresses his "unbounded admiration" for HS’s article on Martineau ["Mr Martineau on evolution", Contemp. Rev. 20 (1872): 141–54]

and his article on sociology [Contemp. Rev. 19 (1872): 701–18]. CD never believed in the reigning influence of great men on the world’s progress but could not have given his reasons. "Now every one with eyes to see and ears to hear . . . ought to bow their knee to you, as I for one do."

If the Memorial concerning Joseph Dalton Hooker’s dispute with Acton Smee Ayrton was sent to Down, there will be a delay in its return. He has discussed the matter with Mary Catherine Stanley (Lady Derby).

Thanks for his election to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.