My dear Father,

I am sorry that you have had so much writing to do about the Geolog: Soc: but I hope it is over now.² I am very glad to hear that you have been able to make up your mind as to the rounding of the particles from Beaulieu, it is a very curious thing and proves what an effect worms must have to preparing supplies of mould.³ I mean to look at the castings that are white on St Catherines hill, and see if the particles of chalk are rounded. I should have thought there was nothing definite enough made out as to St Catherines or Teg Down to make mention of.⁴ I think what Geo. says about the paths being very short if they were horizontal instead of following the slope of the valley is quite true about the small slope I examined, when I go again I will remember the point as to the larger space covered with ledges.⁵

The Brokers cannot get hold of any Southampton Dock Deb: Stock yet, what do you say to the preference 5 per cent stock at 110 or so—the ordinary pays 4 percent—& perhaps might be bought—or I will look out something else.⁶ We were greatly amused by Romanes’ article in Nature on Butler, it is very clever and treats Butler with proper contempt; and Krause’s letter is very satisfactory.⁷ There need be no more worry about such vermin whatever he says or does.

I am very glad old Geo. got off, it was plucky of him to start;⁸ here the snow except in the ditches is almost all washed away by the rain; but no doubt you have plenty in the lanes still.

Sara⁹ & I were greatly struck with Brights’ & Gladstone’s speeches,¹⁰ I wonder what deadly poison R & Hen.¹¹ will manage to find in them. I hear that the guards are doubled at the Ordnance Office & Netley Hospital for fear of the Fenians & dynamite.¹²

Goodbye dear Father I ought to have written before but I have been a slave for last 8 days on a Relief Com^ee. for the distress in the Town.¹³

Sara sends her best love, she is pretty well, but delighted that it no longer necessary to huddle over the fire.

We shall be glad to hear that Bessy¹⁴ thinks of coming soon

Your affect son | W E Darwin