Acknowledges his election as a Corresponding Member of the Academy.

Instructs FD to plant some Oxalis seeds.

Wishes to trace the movement of an old cotyledon. Asks him to examine and compare the pulvinus of a species which moves its cotyledon greatly with one of a species that moves it only moderately.

Are the tendrils ready for heliotropic experiment yet?

Instructions to sow some seeds

and suggestions for experiment on effects of removal of bloom.

Likes Hugo de Vries very much; has hardly ever seen so modest a man.

He and Emma rejoice that GHD’s mathematical troubles are at an end. It is miraculous that he unconsciously followed the right course – like composing a sonata by a fluke.

Is glad WO is undertaking the editing of Anton Kerner’s book [Schutzmittel der Blüthen gegen unberufene Gäste (1876)], which appears to open out "highly original & curious fields of research". [Used as prefatory letter to Kerner, Flowers and their unbidden guests, The translation revised and edited by W. Ogle (1878).]

Asks FD to reply to a letter [11653a] requesting a list of CD’s books.

Is gratified by EV’s "spirited and able defence" in the article printed in La France [26 April 1878].

Julius von Sachs’s views on stomata seem largely correct, but CD cannot understand how leaves can survive submerged for such long periods.

Has been observing Drosera and concludes that none of the movement of the tentacles is caused by growth.

Suggests observations to show role of pulvinus in leaf movement.

Asks what position the sub-peduncles assume when the main flower peduncle of Oxalis is tied so as to be horizontal.

Asks whether FD can find some plants at Kew for CD to trace epinastic and hyponastic movements.

Will be interested to read BP’s work on history [of evolution?].

A learned Jew in Poland [Napthali Lewy?] has published a volume showing that evolution is an ancient belief.

Writing on vegetable physiology.

Nothing in CD’s life has ever interested him more than the fertilisation of such plants as Primula and Lythrum.

Thanks EBA for the copy of the Student’s Magazine.

Encloses a cheque for £11.19.9. Will transmit £7.9.4 to Fritz Müller. Thanks for account of the sale of his books, which appears to be in a "lamentable state".

Wants Oxalis specimen named; is fascinated by cotyledonary movements of the genus.

Before JDH discusses flora of Canary Islands CD suggests he read F. B. White’s paper [see 11707], which explains stocking of Atlantic island fauna as due to changed currents during [last, or Miocene] northern glacial period.

Rejoices that he should have "staggered" William Thomson so quickly and that the latter should speak of GHD’s "discovery". The internal heat [of the earth] will please geologists and evolutionists.

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.

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".

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?"

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