Has read a large part of the Novara voyage [Narrative of the circumnavigation of the globe by the Austrian frigate "Novara" (1861–3)] with pleasure. CD was particularly interested in the scandalous French behaviour at Tahiti.

Sends thanks to Anthropological Society for sending birthday greetings.

Asks RK [Linnean Society Librarian] to send several journal volumes and articles.

Thanks EH for album of photographs of German scientists.

Thanks for the honour conferred upon him [see 10826]; it is quite beyond his deserts.

Pleased and honoured by WTT-D’s review ["Darwin on fertilisation", Nature 15 (1876–77): 329–32]. Comments on review.

Negotiations for loan of drawings [of Lepidoptera] have failed.

Praises AG’s abstract of Cross and self-fertilisation [Am. J. Sci. 3d ser. 13 (1877): 125–41].

Hopes soon to finish with dimorphic plants.

Corrects an important misprint in English edition of Cross and self-fertilisation, p. 275, line six from top [but see 10877].

CD, who has acted as treasurer of the Down Friendly Club for the last 27 years, urges the members not to dissolve the Club, but to continue it and retain about £1000 of the funds on hand to ensure its safety and ability to give assistance to members when they are ill or invalided, or to provide for their burial when dead.

Replies to some of George Henslow’s criticisms [of Cross and self-fertilisation] made in his article ["Fertilisation of plants", Gard. Chron. n.s. 7 (1877): 203–4].

Sends correction to p. 275 of Cross and self fertilisation [but see letter to Édouard Heckel, 4 March 1877].

Thanks AD-P for his articles [Wesen und Begründung der Abstammungs- und Zuchtwahltheorie (1877)] and the eulogistic manner in which he mentions CD’s name.

Darwin consents to his correspondence with Pieter Harting being published in Nature.

Thanks OZ for a "magnificent Album".

On Beagle voyage CD believed in permanence of species. Had occasional vague doubts. In autumn of 1836 saw how many facts indicated common descent of species. In 1837 opened notebook to record facts.

His specimen catalogue has not been returned from Cambridge museum. If not lost, will answer query.

CD has harangued the Down Friendly Club. Does not think it will dissolve.

Accedes to her [unspecified] request.

Acknowledges receipt of a publication from a German author. Hopes that the German will not be too difficult to understand in an "important & abstruse" subject.

Thanks for work on Fossil arctic flora.