Summary

Further discussion of ARW’s help on new [2d] edition of Descent.

Summary

Has had a week’s cessation of Nepenthes work.

Had to get out a paper for the Linnean Society on Thursday.

Has tried Mimosa albida in hothouse and found it wonderfully sensitive.

A military report from India praises his travel book.

Summary

Arrangements for meeting in London.

Glad CD has heard about Dohrn’s affairs.

Summary

Thinks CD’s son George would be more satisfactory than ARW for the work on Descent.

Summary

Sends leaves and names by post.

Is writing everywhere for Drosophyllum.

Is deeply interested in Desmodium.

Had no intention of publishing on Nepenthes, the experiments were solely for CD’s "eating". Will continue with egg and raw meat experiments. Asks for advice on how to prove fluid is secreted by the glands.

Searles Wood’s letter is confused and would deny atavism if his principles were accepted.

Summary

Discussion of his possible assistance on editorial work for revised edition of Descent.

Summary

Discusses experiments and observations on pitchers [of Nepenthes]. Suggests procedures for JDH to follow.

Any plant of any family with a terminal or with any lateral leaflets greatly reduced would be interesting to CD for studying spontaneous movements.

Has not received Eucalyptus or Acacia plants from Rollisson.

Summary

Thanks for FH’s work on the means of the distribution of plants (Hildebrand 1873).

Summary

Sorry to hear of GHD’s poor health – he could have pleasant society at Cambridge if he were stronger.

Contributes £75 [to a fund for Naples Zoological Station] "if the affair goes on after we hear from Dohrn".

Summary

CD’s son [George] could do the work [of proof-correction for Descent, 2d ed.] if ARW finds he does not care for it.

Summary

CD is glad to hear of nature of JF’s work;

proposes that JF call when CD comes to London.

Has read JF’s attack on Agassiz ["Agassiz and Darwinism"] in Popular Science Monthly [3 (1873): 692–705].

Summary

He has noticed that Mimosa albida leaves closed only partially. It can be objected to CD’s theory that, if true, all, or at least more, species would close their leaves on application of water, unless he can show special injury done to M. albida by water.

Summary

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.

Summary

Will not require assistance of correspondent’s cousin in correcting his MS [2d ed. of Descent]. His son [George] will undertake it.

Summary

Is coming to stay in London and wants to arrange a visit to Kew to talk with JDH, see the Eucalypti, and observe Mimosa albida.

Summary

"As the disease hypermetropia is not very rare, & as it is known to be hereditary, I will not give the case (about which I was very doubtful) & am glad to decide in the negative".

Summary

CD is looking for editorial assistance in preparing a new edition of Descent, and inquires whether GHD might be interested in taking on such a tedious job.

Summary

Darwins and Lubbocks wish to continue using the school room as a Reading Room for workers in the winter months and asks Ffinden to support them.

Summary

Has been working hard on Mimosa albida. Could JDH ever make its opposite leaflets shut up close, as in sleep, when he irritated them? CD doubts they do, except in sleep. Thinks movement a protection against water.

Has examined only one specimen of Eucalyptus.

Cannot believe JDH’s results from cutting a hole in pitcher in his Nepenthes experiment.

Summary

Suggests experiment and observations to carry out on pitcher [of Nepenthes].