From William Marshall to Horace Darwin 11 January [1874]

Dear Bounder

It is ages since I heard from you but I think, you can say the same so I won't [s—ware].

How are you & w^t. are you doing & w^t. are you going to do?

Is F.D married? I met here M^rs. MacCallum last autumn who said she was a friend of y^r. sister M^rs [Lotchfield] & t^t. F.D was going to be married soon. is this so?

I recd with interest F.D.'s paper in nature on fertilisation of vetches by bees, I was much interested but wanted figures or the flowers fully to comprehend him.

Bye the by I see t^t. there is a proposition on foot for exporting bumble bees to New Zealand to fertilize the previously exported clover w^h. produces either no or very little seed out there in consequence it is supposed of the absence of proper insect agency.

The matter was discussed at a recent meeting of the London Entomological Society.

I am very pleased you leave taken to the game of twenties, it is I believe destined to revolutionise indoor life, & I intend to add a twentyroom to every house of importance w^h. I design as country residence.—

I hear from F. Myers t^t. y^r. Father is thinking of seeing a spirit seance; this is to me exciting intelligence; my views on the subject have progressed much, I used to believe in the transmisibility of ideas without language, and used to quote as an instance, Arthur & Andrew Bradley pointing to a latin word in a book & saying to Miss Bradley sitting at a distance working a planchette [pointe] this; she knew no latin & c^d. only see the back of the book from where she sat; the planchette wrote the word. I have since heard another instance w^h. seems to me equally good as a test experiment— H. Sidgwick asked a friend a question in German, his friend not knowing german sayes ""I don't in the least understand w^t. you say"" but the planchette in his hand writes an answer w^h. he cant make out, but H. Sidgwick looking at it sees t^t. it is the answer in German, being the next line to the one he quoted.

I have since come to believe in table turning by practical experience, but I am personally I grieve to say a most feeble medium, I trust I may improve by practise but fear I never shall be good at it. This has prepared me (along with Myer's accounts of seances he has been at) for Crooke's remarkable paper w^h. I can't find any excuse for disbelieving. I yearn to see these things.

I muddle on much as usual here.

A. Myers returns from Dresden tomorrow. Andrew Bradley here he is a splendid fellow he is intending to devote himself to writing an exposition of Mazzini (is t^t. how he [spels] his self?) He has done according to report the best philosophy papers in Greats t^t. have been seen for some time notwithstanding having the jaundice part of the Exam. He is one of those people who feel it necessary to settle the antagonism between free will & necessity or perish in the attempt; I used to be much distressed by the inconsistence of free will with the omniscience of God, but don't seem to care about it now; and rather doubt whether I sh^d. be the better for studying the question in the more general form, besides these [wretched] metaphysicians tell one that one requires a long education to understand the terms they use.

But Bradley is very interesting & noble in his aims.

Did I tell you my tip about the hornet moth, his way of getting out of his chrysalis? if not I will send it you  I think it w^d. amuse you. I have just published it in this month's Entomologists Monthly Magazine.

I intend to go to London some time this spring, possibly also to Cambridge. Is there any chance of my meeting you? I have no fixtures but want to spend a day or two in London & w^d. go any time when I c^d. see you again probably 

y^rs. b.

P.S. I don't even know if you still lodge in London or not, so write to down