Has spoken to Wallace to see if reluctant to accept a Government pension. He would accept if CD and Huxley believe it justified. Encloses details of Wallace’s efforts to obtain a position as naturalist and his claims for a pension.

Thanks for news about Wallace memorial; excellent names on it give hope of success.

Mentions Alfred Haddon, an acquaintance of hers who might call on CD.

Congratulates CD on success of memorial; agrees he should be the one to tell Wallace.

Signs a certificate sent to him by CD [see 12954].

Sends CD a ticket to his lecture on 25 February, in which he will propose that the mode by which the excitable parts of plants influence other parts at a distance is essentially the same as in the excitable structure of animals, contrary to the views of Hermann Munk and Julius Sachs.

Interested in chapters 6 and 7 of Movement in plants.

Announces CD’s election as a Corresponding Member.

Asks CD for reference to the edition of Kosmos that contains the original of Ernst Krause’s article on Dr Erasmus Darwin. There are serious differences between the translation by W. S. Dallas and the Feb [1879] article by Krause on which CD, in the preface to Erasmus Darwin, says it was based. SB notes in particular that the concluding sentence of the translation, which is clearly aimed at [SB’s] Evolution, old and new, is not in the original. Since readers will assume the text of Erasmus Darwin was written before his book appeared, SB asks for an explanation.

SB has decided to lay the matter [the subject of 12393 and 12396] before the public and has written to the Athenæum stating the facts. [Athenæum 31 Jan 1880.]

Is impressed by the scale of Torbitt’s experiments. Discusses financial assistance. If Torbitt’s work succeeds, they will be amply repaid.

Comments on the progress of Torbitt’s experiments.

JC and Farrer are impressed with Torbitt’s papers. Will continue financial support.

Finds CD was correct in Variation: hybrid bees tend to sting more often than pure-bred bees.

Preparing a second edition of the chapter on the origin of cultivated plants in his Géographie botanique. The work done since 1855 confirms his opinions.

Thanks for Movement in plants. Praises the terms CD introduces, but criticises CD’s use of the teleological word "purpose".

Outlines his efforts to study the inheritance of characters in his family. F. Galton overemphasises the inheritance of good qualities.

AdeC thinks Monographiae phanerogamarum may be of some use to CD for the most nearly correct names to adopt.

Reports extract of spurge [Euphorbia] killing earthworms.

Is dedicating his Foundations of ethics to CD.

ARC found a frog in New Zealand; contradicts CD [in Origin, 6th ed. (1872), p. 350.]

Requests interview to get CD’s views on stages in evolution of the eye for a talk he is to give at a health congress. [Address to working men & women, 17 December 1881.] in Transactions of the Brighton health congress

Thanks for F. M. Balfour reference, which will serve purpose of his lecture on evolution of the eye.

Will be happy to translate CD’s new book [Movement in plants]. Asks how large the book will be.

Some sheets [of Movement in plants] are missing. Is delighted with its "lesson of methods of observation patience and thought".