Describes her compassion for all his sufferings and writes of her wish that his gratitude could be offered to heaven as well as to herself. To her, the only relief is to try to believe that suffering and illness are from God’s hand "to help us to exalt our minds & to look forward with hope to a future state".

Writes about dealings through John Lubbock regarding [a banking partnership for] WED.

William Darwin can go to Southampton any time should the banking proposition come to anything. CD is sure he would work hard.

Writes regarding the possibility of banking partnership for WED; second note arranges a meeting between the involved parties in London.

Arrangements for a meeting.

Asks to meet JL for a final talk about the banking partnership for William Darwin.

Will look for botanical specimens CD requested.

Tells of a kestrel with a broken leg which apparently was forced to change its diet to worms and snails because of the injury.

Discusses transport of fish to Lake Constance by flooding.

On his father’s crossing experiments with cacti, in which hybrids were found quite fertile.

On his breeding of guinea-pigs.

Sends Miss E. Watts’s message about crested fowls and Brahmas.

CD’s changing taste in periodical literature.

William Darwin’s partnership in bank.

Work: variation and orchids.

Many mutual acquaintances are ill.

Offers CD a live Proteus anguinus from Adelsberg cave. In his hands it will have a fair chance of developing into "some type of Columbidae (say a pouter or tumbler)".

The Origin is universally praised in Italy and Germany, even by those who disagree with it.

There have been delays, but William Darwin’s banking position is nearly settled.

Is going to Torquay, where he will write up his work on orchids.

Notes observations on the spread of bees in New Zealand and their importance as pollinators of clover and other introduced plants.