About the distribution of [surplus income] funds among the children.

Thanks WED for some earthworm observations.

Discusses investments.

Memorial for Wallace pension dispatched to W. E. Gladstone.

Covering letter to enclose a memorial [petitioning for a civil list pension for Wallace].

Seeks R. B. Litchfield’s advice about publishing a translation of a letter and article by E. Krause [answering Samuel Butler’s Unconscious memory].

T. H. Farrer and James Caird express great interest in JT’s report. Have instructed CD to hold £90 for use by JT in spring. Caird asks that potatoes be sent to his gardener for trials.

Good news from Gladstone [concerning pension for Wallace]. Duke of Argyll’s private note greatly influenced Gladstone.

Has heard that Gladstone will recommend A. R. [Wallace] for a pension. Thanks the Duke for having written to Gladstone on the matter.

All his advisers agree that CD ought not to take notice of Butler’s attack.

F. M. Balfour has offered to translate EK’s reply to Butler and to send it to Nature. [The letter was published in Nature 23 (1881): 288.]

Letter of introduction for Montagu Lubbock.

Discusses earthworm activity

and animal grazing on slopes.

Thanks WO for copying and translating [unspecified] passages. CD knew nothing about them, but doubts they are of real use. Passage about summer solstice may indicate something new.

[Ernst Krause’s] letter to Nature ["Unconscious memory – Mr Samuel Butler", 23 (1881): 288] has been dispatched.

Gladstone has dated Wallace’s pension from last July, "which is splendid".

Writes of WED’s certificate for the Geological Society

and discusses various instances of earthworm activity.

Discusses investments,

earthworms,

and an article by Romanes [see 13029].

Discusses earthworms and their ability to perceive narrowest points of leaves to draw them into their burrows.

Discusses investments.

The action of worms when drawing leaves into their burrows.

Thanks WED for sending leaves and making observations on how earthworms drag them into their burrows.

Doubts justice of fierce review against J. Geikie’s book [Prehistoric Europe (1881)] in Nature [by W. B. Dawkins, 23 (1881): 309–10], but if reindeer and hippopotamus have really been found in close contact in same bed – "it tells horribly against interglacial periods".

Island life continues to stimulate: Wallace ignores effects of glaciers on alpine flora and generally exaggerates those of débâcles and wind dispersal. CD encourages JDH to prepare a geographical address including history of geographical distribution.

Describes lecture at Royal Institution by J. S. Burdon Sanderson on movement of plants and animals; JSBS’s preliminary part was so long that he never got to the plants.

Comments on the triumph of the ladies in the voting at Cambridge.

Mentions F. Galton’s visit to Down, a call on the Huxleys, and a visit with the Duke of Argyll.

Tells a story about the absent-mindedness of Burdon Sanderson.