Hopes that Charles Lyell has enjoyed his excursion.
Hopes that Charles Lyell has enjoyed his excursion.
Sends JT the list and amounts subscribed for Huxley. It will probably amount to £1800. He will write to Huxley and use every argument he can to make him accept.
CD did not bring any tortoises back from the Galapagos. There may be specimens at the Military Institution in Whitehall.
Sorry AG was unable to lunch with the Darwins during their stay in London.
Thanks AWM for "Comus" and an abusive New Orleans Mardi Gras newspaper editorial; he cannot tell from the "wonderful mistakes" whether the writer is "witty, ignorant, or blunders for the sake of fun".
Sends to Pantlludw [North Wales] bottle of formic acid. FD and Amy [Darwin] can search for spawn. If found, keep in two basins and add 6 drops of acid to one and look for differences.
Discusses error in CD’s calculation of natural increase of elephants.
Includes extract from Origin.
"Try only 1 or 2 drops of Formic A[cid]."
Thanks LB for his essay on local biology.
CD with much care and discomfort is now able to work a few hours almost every day.
Photographs sent by JC-B show great power of acting.
David Ferrier’s researches sound wonderful. Does he believe that he excites an idea and this leads to the movement, or that he acts directly on the motor nerves?
Fears all the seeds are dead. Will try with less vapour of formic acid.
Thanks for letter and curious photographs. Urges AR not to send anything valuable unless he publishes it elsewhere because CD is growing old and may not have strength and time to continue his former researches.
The Huxley fund amounts to £1955. CD trembles about THH’s answer.
Writes of his extreme interest in WBC’s article ["On the hereditary transmission of acquired psychical habits", Contemp. Rev. 21 (1873): 779–95].
Informs THH that 18 friends have given him a fund of £2100 to enable him to take a holiday.
Encloses note from J. T. Moggridge commenting on JDH’s letter ["Perception in ants", Nature 7 (1873): 443–4].
Affected by THH’s letter – will send a copy to the other 17 friends. Hopes for his and public’s sake his health will improve.
Offers condolences on the death of CL’s wife.
A circular letter forwarding to subscribers a copy of Huxley’s letter of thanks [8873].
Sends Huxley’s "charming letter". Asks whether it should be sent to Lady Millicent Jones. CD is "so happy about the whole affair".
Sends another copy [of Huxley’s letter of thanks for holiday fund].