Summary

CD has just had an interview with Edward Frankland, who "almost laughs" at FD’s idea of getting potash and soda out of the soil by treating it with sulphuric acid. Asks FD to send him a soil sample to give to Frankland. Sends enclosures giving address and labels for soil samples.

Summary

Gives permission for a Spanish translation of the Origin and wishes it success.

Summary

[Entry describing a Sunday morning call [see 10480a] during which CD witnessed the behaviour of a bullfinch and a canary in eating parts of some primroses and cowslips.]

Summary

Sends Mind. Henry Sidgwick’s article ["The theory of evolution in its application to practice", Mind 1 (1876): 52–67] is so clear it makes CD feel "a muddle-headed man". But he disagrees with Sidgwick on the origin of morality within tribes.

Summary

Sends a pamphlet for FD and Ruck, who did not turn up for breakfast.

Summary

Is sure mathematical discussion of elevation of continents will be valued by geologists.

Summary

Thanks HB for obtaining a translation by a learned rabbi of [the Naphtali Lewy] letter – "a real curiosity". [See 10430.]

Summary

Sends some potato plants and tubers.

Summary

Thanks FD for the volumes of Revista Botanica [1874–5].

Summary

Thanks for essay [Cras credemus: a treatise on the cultivation of the potato from the seed, having for proposed results the extinction of the disease (1876)] and seeds. Thinks principle on which JT is acting is right.

Cannot allow publication of his earlier letter [10368], as he cannot recall what he wrote.

Summary

Requests permission to publish CD’s previous letter [10440].

Summary

JT may publish CD’s letter.

Summary

JT may publish enclosed [letter by CD?], but it is not worth publication.

Summary

Grieves over poor account of her health. Emma and Henrietta are also ill.

Summary

Requests permission to call upon EF any morning from Saturday through Tuesday.

Summary

Thanks for response to query on what is an individual.

Sends paper on potatoes [see 10440].

Summary

Believes publishing CD’s letter will enable JT to suppress the potato disease several years sooner.

Returns CD’s answer to JT’s question "What is an individual?", and repeats his request for permission to publish it.

Summary

JT still thinks CD’s opinions on "what is an individual?" should be published.

Seeking financial backing for his research.

Summary

Does not think that publishing his letters as advertisement [for potato experiments] would help JT’s cause, so CD cannot give permission.

Regrets that he has neither the time nor health to undertake crossing experiments with JT’s specimens. Discusses crossing varieties.

Summary

Apologises for placing CD in the objectionable position of sponsor for a rejected paper. RLT has gone over old ground in ignorance.