Summary

Discusses his election to the Geological Society, worm researches, GHD’s travels, investments,G J Romanes on Samuel Butler, the snow, politics.

Summary

Has been writing life of Erasmus Darwin.

Wants plants with heliotropic aerial roots. Has proved root apex governs nature of flexure in upper part of root.

Summary

Asks for two property valuations. Is afraid he has made a mistake in CD’s property settlements.

Summary

Discusses a book

and the "splendid news about the elections".

Summary

Description of remains of a Roman villa and the worm activity at the site.

Summary

Sends figures on increase in value of North Western Railway stocks. Says consol stock considered much more secure for bankers. Does not think his own bank is in danger of a run. Is glad to see the Emperor of Prussia has confirmed CD’s appointment to Academy. Is snowing at Bassett.

Summary

Marriage is basis of all religious forms of thought, and this is the subjective equivalent of CD’s law that sex is the most important agency of universal development.

Summary

Thanks for sending Nature; plans to leave on 22 May; anecdote about Bernard.

Summary

Julius von Sachs will "swear & curse" when he finds out he has missed sensitiveness of root apex. Has been putting his notes together and the case is conclusive. [Dated "Saturday 10th" by CD.]

Summary

Will look for worm-castings in the cloisters,

and will send CD items from the Cambridge papers on the honorary degree.

Has hit on a possible fallacy in W. Thomson’s theory of secular cooling of the earth.

Summary

Sends CD petition from Olmstead and asks him to forward it around to get good signatures.

Summary

On flowers bending towards light reflected in a mirror.

Summary

Discusses division of Trust. Is concerned Bessy’s portion will be smaller than Henrietta's. Had a pleasant visit in Cambridge. There is a clerical error in the division of CD’s property.

Summary

Thanks for AG’s review of Forms of flowers [Am. J. Sci. 3d ser. 15 (1878): 67–73].

Thomas Carlyle’s letter about CD was a forgery.

Gives Hermann Müller’s observations on Valeriana dioica.

Is unsure about function of "bloom"; are glaucous plants more or less common in arid parts of U. S.?

Observations on heliotropism.

Thomas Meehan reports that Linum perenne is self-fertile; CD thinks that he has mistaken the species.

Summary

Welcomes JDH home from American expedition.

Summary

Has sent last week’s Nature wth J. S. Newberry’s paper ["Hypothetical high tides", Nature 25 (1882): 357–8]. CD thinks Newberry is right. This week’s issue has a letter against Newberry by Charles Callaway ["Letters to the editor: hypothetical high tides", Nature 25 (1882): 385].

The Archbishop of Canterbury has launched a series by scientists in the Contemporary Review on what is known and what is theoretical in science. [The series appears to have begun with an article by Robert S. Ball, "The boundaries of astronomy", 41 (1882): 923–41]. CD was asked to participate, but refused.

Summary

Sends observations of wormcasts at Malvern. Describes stay at Abinger.

Summary

Sent rare cycad seeds for CD’s cotyledon study.

Welwitschia seed germinated at Kew had ordinary cotyledons. JDH thinks mature Welwitschia leaves are original cotyledons.

Summary

Sends some anecdotal material about Benjamin Franklin, whom his father knew while studying medicine in Paris.

Summary

Returns Geikie’s letter; is glad he has accepted settlement of gravel through melting of snow. Is trudging around with hammer and bag with help of Ramsay’s book. Describes visits to Kenilworth and Stratford. Sara consulted a physician. Called on Reginald D. and enjoyed meeting relations and seeing picture of Erasmus. Reginald very taken with George.