Second request that CD sign a Cambridge memorial [i.e., petition]. The heading has been amended to include graduates who have formerly studied medicine.

Thanks for having sent prehistoric remains.

Thanks JT for his information. Sends £50 to the W. K. Clifford memorial fund.

Requests testimonial from CD for position of Assistant Keeper, Zoological Dept, British Museum.

Since he was innocent of sending the Botanische Zeitung to CD, he inquired of the editor, who informs him that it is sent every week by post by order of Williams and Norgate.

"I do not know whether the enclosed will be of any use to you.– I can say nothing of your fitness for the desired office, as I know nothing whatever of its duties.

I am sincerely sorry to hear of Mr F. Smith’s death."

Read GA’s book [The colour-sense] with "great interest". Makes criticisms and suggestions.

Cannot believe in GA’s theory of the origin of pleasure and pain.

Is glad he defends sexual selection;

CD finds A. R. Wallace’s explanations "mere empty words" and for many years he has "quite doubted [ARW’s] scientific judgment".

Considers the possible effect of environmental colour on the colour tastes of animals.

Thanks for criticisms of Colour-sense.

Clarifies his views that actions desirable for species result in development of nervous organs capable of pleasurable stimulation.

Believes that all "tastes" occurring in nature are explicable with reference to ancestral habits and that none is purely arbitrary.

Letter of recommendation for Richard Bowdler Sharpe, ornithologist.

Circular about the distribution of the overplus of his income and advice on investment.

Is increasing FD’s allowance.

Has begun his chapter on sleep of plants [for Movement in plants].

Encloses a press clipping [missing] of his observations [on stem structure?].

Describes health-related arguments for vegetarianism. Notes arguments that anthropoid apes are vegetarians. Asks whether man is sufficiently adapted to mixed diet so that meat is not harmful?

Sends short testimonial [missing] for RBS, but doubts its value as he has has already given one for the same office [to A. G. Butler, see 11888].

Wants to borrow Duchartre’s Éléments de botanique [1867].

Has not been able to complete Bohemian edition of Origin because of trip to Africa.

Is collecting zoological evidence for CD’s theory.

Did not wish to imply that some leaves are insensitive to light, only that he could not measure their sensitivity. Contraction of roots seems common.

CD cannot find his pincers and other tools for microscopical dissection. Does FD know where he should look?

Hopes FD will feel better after "so complete a change" [trip to North Africa].

Sends his love to George.

Bernard gets more charming every day.

CD has been put on a committee for a memorial fund for W. K. Clifford.

Directs CD where to find tools in his room. Has been looking at agave and aloe flowers. Thanks family for their letters.

Thanks CD profusely for the circular which detailed his and Emma Darwin’s plans to increase their children’s income. Thinks a few hundred really makes the difference for feeling really rich, especially as he now knows how important it is for bankers to have available personal savings.