Thanks for agreeing to write the preface for RM’s translation of Weismann.

Will arrange to meet CD when he comes to London.

Thanks for ACR’s Physical geology [5th ed. (1878)]; delighted with its success, proving there is a large body of men in England capable of appreciating sound geological science.

Encloses a letter [missing] on the progress of the Fuegians.

His eldest son has married.

No summary available.

Acknowledges receipt of French translation of Forms of flowers. "No one more than you has made us feel the beauties of Creation and made us enter more profoundly into the secrets of nature."

Encloses William Thomson’s report on GHD’s paper. Some of it was written in Rayleigh’s hand.

CD elected foreign associate of the Royal Academy of Sciences [K. Preussische Akademie der Wissenschaften].

EdB-R’s paper will be available in English in the New York periodical, Popular Science Monthly, and he hopes CD will read it. [See 11742 and 11842.]

Explains the occurrence of cattle on the Fuegian islands.

Discusses intentions with regard to missionary stations and steamers in the area.

Delighted with [William Thomson’s] report. "There can be no doubt now about the value of your work." CD has "not been so much pleased for a long time".

Has observed rare instances of Ophrys apifera with "cut labellum". Suggests it was done by large dragonfly mistaking the flower for a fly visiting a flower. Stimulated to study Ophrys by Orchids.

Describes the change in shape of a worm over a candle-flame.

Discusses three "laws of race preservation" which are evolving: (1) natural selection; (2) the sociological law of sympathetic selection, or indiscriminate survival; (3) moral law – social selection or the "Birth of the Fittest".

CD hopes GAG is right [see 11744]. His second law seems largely acted on in civilised societies. Evil that would follow from checking benevolence to weak and diseased would be greater than by allowing them to survive and procreate. CD doubts that artificial checks would be advantageous to the world at large. If birth could be prevented, and control were not thought immoral, "would there not be a danger of profligacy amongst unmarried women?"

Invites CD to join the Association of Liberal Thinkers and encloses information on its constitution. Huxley and Tyndall are co-operating.

Discusses colour variations in the geometer moth, Gnophos obscurata. Concludes that the increasing proportion of the darker form is related to the effect of smoke that is blackening the chalk slopes on which they live.

THN, a medium with a gift to cure occult diseases, outlines a course of treatment to remedy CD’s ailments.

Thanks CD for his encouraging letter. Replies to CD’s points. Thinks more attention should be given to the origin and growth of sexual shame.

Instructs FD to make some observations on movement in Trifolium and Impatiens. Sends some seeds to be sown.

Horse chestnut roots have not acted at all well.

Suggests experiment to detect salts deposited on surface of leaves.

Wants FD to have another go at horse-chestnut radicles.