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.
Concern for Lady Lyell;
will clear away work and set off for holiday in June.
Sends Critiques and addresses.
A life of J. D. Forbes [by J. C. Shairp, P. J. Tait, and A. A. Reilly (1873)] suggests that THH and Tyndall conspired to keep JDF from getting the Copley Medal. THH feels obliged to correct this.
Lady Lyell’s death.
Sends names of donors of gift to THH.
The Edinburgh Review has a critical article against CD, THH, Tyndall, and H. Spencer [see 8935]. Thinks Forbes reference not worth answering.
W. H. Flower is ill and obliged to go off for six months. Wants to return the money Flower contributed to fund for his holiday, asks the amount.
Answers THH’s query about W. H. Flower; gives the amount he contributed to the gift. Advises against returning it, even anonymously. Hopes WHF’s health improves.
Arrangements for meeting in London.
Glad CD has heard about Dohrn’s affairs.
THH sends to AD a draft, prepared by himself and CD, of a statement for a subscription fund to assist AD’s Naples Zoological Station.
A letter from Anton Dohrn declines the proposed fund [that THH and others suggested be raised in England for marine biological station at Naples].
Hooker’s inaugural as President of Royal Society a success.
R. Owen distinguished himself in his way.
Sorry to hear of Dohrn’s troubles. Has written to prospective donors saying that nothing can be done because of attitude of Dohrn’s father.
New [2d] edition of Descent is an awful job.
Diet no longer doing much for his health.
Reports to CD on a spiritualist séance attended by himself (incognito) and G. H. Darwin.
Discusses THH’s account of the séance. CD convinced all are fraudulent.
Has heard from Dohrn about his financial problems. Asks CD’s advice on what to do.
THH’s article in Contemporary Review ["Universities: actual and ideal" (1874), Collected essays, vol. 3 (1894)].
Asks for THH’s description of brain and skull [of man and apes] for 2d ed. of Descent [supplement to ch. 7].
Asks about Dohrn affair and contributions for Naples station. Doubts subscriptions will be successful.
His note on brain [in man and apes for 2d ed. of Descent] nearly finished.
Has heard nothing about Dohrn.
THH has been invited to lecture in America.
Sends his screed about the brain [for Descent], which he thinks pounds the enemy into a jelly.
Is in good health.
His note on the brain should be in small type.
Glad CD agrees with him on hand, foot, and skull question.
Has heard from Dohrn.
Returns proof of his note on brain for 2d ed. of Descent. Has added a reference to Abbé Lecomte’s "terrible pamphlet" [Le Darwinisme et l’origine de l’homme (1873)] "lest it be thought I meant our cher Owen".
K. G. Semper’s article ["On the relationship of the Vertebrata and Annelida", Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 15 (1875): 94–5] is ill-natured. Misinterprets facts already discovered by F. M. Balfour.
Has been working on Amphioxus. Puts his theory of vertebrate skulls on firm footing at last.
Is writing confidentially not to justify the passage referred to [see 9759], which he much regrets, but to state facts. He never intended any personal hostility to [George] Darwin and seeks advice about how to make reparation.
Thanks THH and Hooker for defending George Darwin against Mivart’s libel.