CD recounts events of the April-fool’s day séance at Hensleigh [Wedgwood]’s. Asks GHD to find out whether Sidgwick’s account of it agrees with what he has heard. "What rubbish the whole does seem to be!"
About elections to [an unspecified] club.
Sends reference to Codrington paper on gravels ["The superficial deposits of the south of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight", Q. J. Geol. Soc. Lond. 26 (1870): 3–28]. Comments on local gravels in railway cutting and the violent agency of their removal from hills.
Payne will send vine cuttings.
Thomas Belt has been visiting; they are to meet Huxley.
He is moved by denudation of the Weald.
Will write to Strickland. Asks whether name has already been put down for Athenaeum.
Sends his thoughts on [vivisection] petition. Thinks they might make petition more talked about. Leaves it to J. Paget, Burdon Sanderson, and CD to deal with.
Another message about club elections.
Expresses concern about the "coolness" between CD and [G. S.] Ffinden in regard to the Infant School.
Sends the Memorial [concerning animal experimentation].
Likes draft of petition on vivisection. Asks whether phrase "and the lower animals" might not be added at end.
Is sending plants from cut-leaved vine.
Invites GJR to visit.
"When in presence of my ladies do not talk about experiments on animals."
Sends last part of his book [Ulteriori observazioni sulla dicogamia (1868–74)] [osservazioni!?] and describes contents.
Writes regarding local difficulties concerning Down School and the setting up of a reading-room; his strained relationship with G. S. ffinden following some misunderstanding.
Arrangements for a visit to Down.
Explains that there is no need for the addressee to apologise.
JM expresses willingness to publish CD’s Climbing plants [2d ed.].
Discusses the handling of the Memorial concerning animal experimentation.
Is glad JM will publish [Climbing plants] as a separate little book. Some people have been much interested in it, though it has been read by very few.
"We have not a day to lose if our [Vivisection] Bill or our petition is to do any good". Reports on the activities of the opposition and the attitude of politicians on the subject. Believes a meeting with a minister should be arranged and thinks Lord Derby would be a good man. "All will depend on some half-dozen or 9 or 12 men agreeing on the bill."
Considers the question of recognised lecturers being allowed a licence to perform animal experiments without having to obtain a certificate of fitness.