Circular letter regarding the distribution of CD’s excess income, with a note addressed to W. E. Darwin concerning his handling of Elizabeth Darwin’s share.

Thanks his children for their present of a fur coat.

Sorry to hear of his illness.

On his visit to J. F. McLennan, GHD might tell him that CD thinks A. R. Wallace would work up McLennan’s materials conscientiously.

Nature [21 (1880): 382] has an item about tremors and earth movements in Japan.

The Colonel [J. L. Chester] is pleased [see 12509].

Jos[iah Wedgwood III] is dying.

Discusses GHD’s genealogical researches

and his health.

Some essays have arrived for GHD.

Advises GHD on what to write if he is asked for a reference for Alfred Wrigley.

Thanks GHD for information about trypsin.

Asks GHD to decipher a letter [in German] he has received with a book: The Bible in science.

Enjoyed his stay in Cambridge extremely.

Discusses how fruits of lime-trees arranged themselves in a ripple-like way on a flooded walk.

Glad GHD goes on with ripple-marks; if he makes out a theory of ripples, they might give important information about the most ancient deposits.

CD has been wonderfully glorified in the Times [review of Movement in plants, 20 Nov 1880].

Discusses GHD’s ripple theory. Asks him how they are formed.

Delighted to hear that light is dawning in GHD’s eyes on the planetary system.

Thanks to Times review, Murray needs 500 more copies [of Movement in plants].

The Kovalevskys have been to lunch.

Madame Kovalevsky is greatly interested in GHD’s papers.

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

[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".

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.

Discusses a letter [not found] from R. S. Ball that has quite delighted him.

Describes events at Patterdale.

GHD’s abstract from Nature [24 (1881): 231] has been published in Kosmos.

John Collier has finished his portrait of CD.

The General Post Office sent one penny in response to GHD’s complaint, and demanded a receipt, which CD has sent. CD will keep the penny.