On Royal Society Council’s deliberations on awards. GJA argues that older men should be given first claim lest they die neglected; CD had stressed importance of encouraging younger men.

Carlyle hoped CD had not been annoyed by that forged letter, which was the reverse of his opinion. [Enclosed is a published extract, said to be taken from a Thomas Carlyle letter, which denies CD’s intellect and regrets his influence.]

JDH recounts discussion at Royal Society over Günther’s paper on distribution and affinities of gigantic tortoises ["Description of the living and extinct races of gigantic land-tortoises, Parts III and IV", Proc. R. Soc. Lond. 25 (1876–7): 506–7]. Huxley suggests they are Miocene relics.

Royal Society will publish Frank’s Dipsacus paper [but see 10971 and 11073].

Thiselton-Dyer will review Cross and self-fertilisation.

He has defended Tyndall, CD, and others against attacks of a clergyman.

Sends CD parts of the Annales [Soc. Bot. Lyon] in response to his request for a particular article.

States that, despite CD’s work, he does not believe that any plants, including insectivorous ones, can utilise organic material, and that they live solely on mineral elements in the soil and air.

Reports on expression in his Pomeranian dog.

A letter from CD’s admirers in the Netherlands, sent with an album of their photographs, in celebration of his sixty-eighth birthday.

Presents an account of early efforts in the Netherlands in the direction of developmental theories, and evidence of the support and enthusiastic reception given CD’s theory.

Sends specimen of Gilia aggregata and will try to get Phlox subulata.

Sends holly specimens. Differences in flowering times of various hollies.

Sends birthday wishes. Album of photographs from German admirers has been sent.

Plans trip to Mediterranean.

Sends specimens of two forms of Rhamnus lanceolata.

Sends birthday greetings. Asks for autographed photograph.

Intends to name his son after CD.

CD made a corresponding member of the Berliner Gesellschaft für Anthropologie, Ethnologie und Urgeschichte.

Sends another extract [from Diseases of women (1877)].

Has reviewed Cross and self-fertilisation in the Spectator.

Reports on French translations of Cross and self-fertilisation, Climbing plants, and Insectivorous plants.

Sends album of photographs of German scientists as birthday honour.

Thanks CD for Orchids. Has written a notice for Chelmsford Chronicle.

Finds some botanical observations on inflorescences.

Requests CD’s autograph. [Translation of letter made by O. Dill, see 10871.]

Édouard Heckel of Grenoble is translating Cross and self-fertilisation.

Expression has sold out; wants a new edition.