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.

Send CD a present of a fur coat.

Hopes CD got telegram about Convolvulus. Is measuring plants every four hours. Will go to Brittany by boat from Southampton on Monday night.

Thanks FD for criticisms [of Movement in plants]. J. D. Hooker was interested in the observations of movement in Desmodium.

Are there old furrowed fields on hillsides in N. Wales, if so can FD look for earthworm activity?

Thanks for letter and journals. Sends information on earthworms and also information from Mr Ruck. Describes his fishing and his success finding sea shore plants that are new to him.

Discusses corrections [to Movement in plants]. Has dispatched chapter nine.

Dispatches a chapter [of Movement in plants] for FD to look over.

Sorry he forgot the gardener’s address. Having a very nice time in Cambridge, and is almost finished the bramble paper. Drawing room is upside down, so living in Horace’s working room and dining room. Greek question was lost in the Senate House. George dined there last night. Too muddy to bicycle. Has some stuff for spectacles.

Will stay until London until after the Linnean Society meeting unless CD wants anything. Asks to send abstracts of papers. Has made short abstracts of papers for Nature.

FD’s abstract ["Physiology of plants", Nature 23 (1880): 178–81] is excellent, and as clear as daylight.

The Duke of Argyll has written to Gladstone in support of a pension for A. R. Wallace.

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

Copies of FD’s paper have arrived ["The theory of growth", J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 18 (1881): 406–19]. Does he want them dispatched?

News from the laboratory at Strasbourg; is working on Equisetum roots. Wortmann has found circumnutation in the mycelium of a fast-growing fungus. Please send papers (see 13155).

Some papers have arrived for FD.

Comments on the work of Phillipe van Tieghem who evidently knows nothing of insectivorous plants.

Leslie Stephen’s visit to Down went off well.

Is sorry to have involved himself in a priority dispute between Wortmann and Elfving. Intends to publish on circumnutation; will CD send him his notes? Apologises for taking CD’s protractor, will send it back. Has met Oscar Schmidt.

Thanks FD for his excellent corrections [to MS of Earthworms].

Is sending chapter [of Earthworms] for FD to look over.

Comments on FD’s work on movements of mould.

Is glad to hear about Julius von Sachs and the circumnutation theory.