Is beginning Geikie’s Ice age. Describes flints found on the common. Comments on exciting election.

Has received CD’s acknowledgment, through Ernest De La Rue, for the copy he sent of Jungle life [in India (1880)].

Offers to collect material for CD on his return to India.

W. D. Fox’s sufferings have ended; he died that morning.

Will see what can be done about getting thumb impressions, to see if the markings are persistent.

Seeks testimonial, as he is applying for the Keepership of Geology at the British Museum.

Thanks CD for his testimonial and congratulates him on "The coming of age of the ""Origin of Species""". [T. H. Huxley, Not. Proc. R. Inst. G. B. 9 (1879–81): 361–8; Collected essays, vol. 2.]

Attempts to reconcile accounts of man’s creation in Origin and in Genesis, to both of which he is devoted.

CD’s framed letter may be hung in a fireproof gallery in the State House, now being finished.

Sends German edition of Erasmus Darwin.

[CD’s notes form part of a draft for 12586.]

Is coming to England to lecture and would like to meet CD again.

Would like more information about Erasmus Darwin’s shorthand writing for his series on "Shorthand writers of renown".

His publishers are as puzzled as CD about what the title of his new book [Movement in plants] should be. Sends a tentative one in proof [missing].

Fritz Müller’s daughter has committed suicide.

There has been talk in American papers of CD’s admitting he was wrong about hybrid sterility. TM has presented CD’s views in the New York Independent.

F. V. Dickins feels hurt at CD’s censure of him over the Omori shell mound controversy [see Collected papers 2: 222–3]. Dickins is well educated in science and long familiar with Japan, having been editor of the Japan Mail. In Japan, E. S. Morse is considered a charlatan, and American scientists, e.g., A. Agassiz, have a low opinion of him.

Wild cat gestation is twelve days longer than domestic cat, a fact not mentioned in Variation.

Corrects CD’s statement [Descent 1: 19] that the platysma myoides muscle cannot be brought into voluntary action. He can move every one of his facial muscles.

Writes regarding an [unspecified] election at a university. JL wonders whether William Darwin would speak to two Southampton men about it.

Hopes CD does not think his faith in natural selection is weak because he omitted mention of it in his lecture.

Is working on dogs. They will make a case for "Darwinismus".

Has planted six, as opposed to eleven acres last year, to keep within expenditure. Must pollen be used immediately? Fourteen landowners are growing potatoes for JT.