Thanks for Erasmus Darwin.

Thanks CD for signing a memorial.

Thanks for Erasmus Darwin.

Encloses latest report on his new potatoes. Believes the plants should be grown from seed every fourth year to preserve yield and disease-resistance.

Sends a book on shorthand

and a paper, probably by Erasmus Darwin, entitled "Moral and physical hermeneutics", on the subject of temperance.

Received enclosed report from Torbitt on potato experiments.

Answers EK’s questions. Sorry to report Erasmus Darwin sold only 600 copies at advance sale.

Thanks for the offer of lending a manuscript relating to his grandfather. It will be of use if a second edition of the Life of Dr. Darwin should appear. Will take the greatest care of them and return them as soon as he has read them.

Describes problems of raising money [for potato experiments]. "A Government official in another office remarked to me that it was very difficult for Ministers to decide what to do in such cases as they must be prepared for mere cavillers in the H[ouse] of Commons."

Thinks W. P. Garrison’s book [extracts from Journal of researches for juvenile readers] would serve as an advertisement for the Journal.

Disappointed at sale of Erasmus Darwin.

Thanks for Erasmus Darwin. It is a rare life and an unmatched illustration of the transmission of intellectual strength.

Supports CD’s theory but doubts that butterfly life-cycle is consistent with it. Metamorphosis of butterflies is not comparable to that of other insects.

Comments on butterfly fertilisation of flowers.

Her brother-in-law, Edward Wheler, died on Sunday.

Sends some corrections for Erasmus Darwin.

Encloses a report on JT’s potato varieties by William Meredith, one of the many individuals in the country who are growing them.

Thanks ESG for list of errata in his part [of Erasmus Darwin].

Extends sympathy on death of Edward Wheler, E. S. G’s brother-in-law.

Wants a plant identified;

would like some cotton seeds.

Intends to get his ideas on the "wearing out" of varieties printed.

This year’s crosses were failures.

Has never heard of bees that are carnivorous; hopes someone will investigate ASP’s observations.

German edition of Erasmus Darwin will not appear until next year.

Thanks CD for noticing some difficulties in his hypothesis. Concedes that there is no proof that higher plants are more intolerant of carbon dioxide than lower plants. Argues that the main difference between the lowlands and the high mountains in Palaeozoic times would be the much greater climatic fluctuations that would occur on the mountains. Discusses carbon dioxide diffusion in the Palaeozoic atmosphere. Thinks that the large number of species and genera peculiar to high mountains favours the assumption that "their diffusion must date from a geologically remote period" [see ML 2: 20–2].