Summary

Discusses his investments.

P.S. on earthworms.

Summary

Has taken OCM to the photographer’s, and is sending photographs to be signed.

Summary

Discusses GHD’s genealogical researches

and his health.

Summary

Writes of Anthony Rich’s bequest.

Summary

Asks CD to invite William James to stay before he returns to America.

Summary

Writes about WED’s purchasing a house.

Summary

Sends diagrams [missing] showing worm action at two sites.

Summary

Writes of a Mrs Noel, who is annoyed with CD’s neglect of Erasmus Darwin’s brother, W[illiam] A[lvey] D[arwin I], [in Erasmus Darwin].

Summary

LD is supplying coloured-glass light filters for CD’s experiments.

Summary

Thanks WED for sending leaves and making observations on how earthworms drag them into their burrows.

Doubts justice of fierce review against J. Geikie’s book [Prehistoric Europe (1881)] in Nature [by W. B. Dawkins, 23 (1881): 309–10], but if reindeer and hippopotamus have really been found in close contact in same bed – "it tells horribly against interglacial periods".

Summary

Asks whether CD will forward enclosed to Lord Derby, and offers to send him a copy of the New York state survey. Will go to Beaulieu in the early autumn. Tells story about gallenes raised by hens being attacked.

Summary

Thanks CD for giving money to the children. Is going to give money to Bessy, but not invest it until she is really rich. Returns Butler’s letter. Thinks Butler is looking for a grievance to write an article about.

Summary

CD and Frank Darwin hard at work on physiology of plants.

Summary

Writes of WED’s certificate for the Geological Society

and discusses various instances of earthworm activity.

Summary

Gives information about the Great Western Railway dividend.

Summary

Working hard on physiology of plants.

His son George sees no reason to change his view on marriage of cousins.

George’s astronomical work is too deep for CD.

Summary

Worm-castings from [Roman] ruins at Brading contained bits of tiles or bricks. Obliged for WED’s trouble about Brading castings.

Movement in plants well received in Germany.

Summary

Requests a list of CD’s trust securities; he and Sara have finished Worms; asks what he should do with dividend warrant.

Summary

Has received Ledum with its captured flies.

"At present I care for nothing in this wide world except the biology of seedling plants."

Summary

Suggests that GHD employ W. M. Hacon as solicitor for selling E. A. Darwin’s house, rather than Mr Salt’s agents; he remembers that firm as full of odious people.