Congratulations [on election to Parliament]; hopes science will not suffer because of politics.

Previously wrote inquiring about savages and suicide, but JL need not hurry to answer.

CD would like questions on consanguineous marriages inserted in the Census to ascertain effects, if any, on fertility.

Thanks JL for his book [Origin of civilization (1870)], which he has read with "extreme interest". Wishes JL had published four or five months earlier as CD would have "so profited & saved so much work". CD will have to modify some of what he has written [in Descent]. Sees they differ a good deal about moral sense "but hardly two men ever do agree on this perplexing subject".

JL’s note of the 16th [see 7277] about the Census arrived too late for CD to answer.

Returns, with thanks, a copy of JL's father's [John William Lubbock] work on lunar theory, and compliments JL on his own writings on prehistoric man.

All the inhabitants of Down hope JL will endeavour to induce the Post Office to improve the telegraph service.

CD’s comments on proofs of JL’s book [Monograph of the Collembola and Thysanura (1873)].

Praises and comments on JL’s essay on insects ["Origin of insects", J. Linn. Soc. Lond. 11 (1873): 422–5].

Asks JL to obtain copies of CD’s botanical works for his wife.

Discusses problems of obtaining money for the alteration of Down church.

CD wishes to acquire a piece of JL’s land.

Thanks for JL’s willingness to sell land.

Circular requesting recipients to sign an enclosed [missing] statement [relating to appeal for Naples Zoological Station] if they approve of it.

Encloses a statement and circular he has been asked to send to JL.

Sends MS intended some day for the Viola tricolor section of Cross and self-fertilisation [pp. 123–8] to be used by JL in his British wild flowers (1875).

JL’s two articles in Nature ["Common wild flowers", 10 (1874): 402–6, 422–6].

Cautions against C. K. Sprengel’s notion of bees’ being deceived by nectarless nectary.

Colour of calyces.

Asks JL to send ten shillings for the Down Friendly Club.

Has just read JL’s paper on bees and wasps [J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Zool.) 12 (1876): 110–39]. Is astonished by their stupidity. The experiments on colour are especially good. Suggests JL examine their retinas; sends enclosure [missing] on eyes of reptiles and birds.

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 to meet a Duke [unidentified] at High Elms [Lubbock residence].

Discusses the time of the Duke’s arrival on Tuesday. [See 9968.]

Glad to have heard JL’s admirable speech read aloud.