Summary

Problem with Charles Reinwald could be solved if CD would ask that French edition [of Erasmus Darwin] follow English. EK willing to co-operate with Reinwald.

Summary

CD thanks him for his congratulations and for details of letters, which he will keep with the Butlerian documents.

FD is happy for his lecture to be republished in Kosmos.

Summary

Encloses a letter from CD to C.-F. Reinwald for EK to read, and if he approves, to send on.

Summary

CD thanks Krause for the errata.

CD is sorry to hear that Krause’s part will not appear in the French edition, and cannot believe that C.-F. Reinwald would be influenced by antagonism to the Germans. Reinwald always gives CD a small percentage on sales, and CD had intended to pass it on to EK.

Summary

Discusses arrangements for a French translation of Erasmus Darwin (1879).

Summary

Gives an account of his publication plans for his and Ernst Krause’s Erasmus Darwin.

CD has never even dreamed of publishing his own autobiography.

Is now working, with Francis, on plant movements.

Summary

Thanks EK for his article [on CD’s Movement in plants].

Admires EK’s wide interest in science. Would like to send him something to publish in Kosmos.

Fears his new book [Earthworms] will hardly do, but will send sheets when printed so that EK can decide whether any chapter or a part of one will serve. Victor Carus’s consent would be needed for publication in Kosmos, and CD will ask for it.

Summary

Thanks for copy of Erasmus Darwin. The refutation of Miss Seward is admirable and conclusive.

Summary

Is sending chapter [of Earthworms] for FD to look over.

Comments on FD’s work on movements of mould.

Is glad to hear about Julius von Sachs and the circumnutation theory.

Summary

Thanks for FD’s letter describing microscopic work under experienced supervision.

Is glad to hear of C. E. Stahl’s objection to treating plants as mere machines.

Pleased that J. von Sachs has yielded on growth.

Perhaps Stahl will recognise whether the case of the silver fir is the same as that referred to in the German account [see 12074b].

CD has finished the first draft of his essay on Erasmus Darwin’s life and is "heartily sick of the job".

Summary

Since CD has decided not to answer S. Butler’s charge, WSD will not reply either.

Will look over Francis Darwin’s lecture ["Climbing plants"] with a view to publishing it in Popular Science Review [19 (1880): 213–29].

Summary

CD’s little biography [Erasmus Darwin] has turned out very dull.

May FG’s tour turn out pleasant.

Summary

CD will soon finish corrections [of Earthworms] for printer, and then clean sheets will be sent to JVC for translation of the book and to Ernst Krause. The subject has been a "hobby-horse" with CD, and he has perhaps treated it in foolish detail. Has told Krause he does not think any part of the MS suitable for Kosmos, but Krause must decide.

Summary

Geotropism.

Experimenting on Porlieria in damp and dry earth.

Hermann Müller has been ridiculed for teaching children "in the beginning was Carbon".

Will ask about Ernst Krause.

Summary

Wants FD to find out what sort of man Ernst Krause is.

Summary

Sends proofs of his preface [to EK’s Erasmus Darwin], with which he is disappointed. Suggests additions and improvements he would like to make.

Summary

Publication of Earthworms delayed, but will send sheets to EK when he receives them [so that he can decide about publishing extracts in Kosmos].

Thanks for "Die Gegenwart".

"’Instinct’ of plants" is a most puzzling problem.

Does not see how mind can be defined "if we subtract consciousness".

Summary

Thanks for mentioning CarlVogt, to whom he will write.

Comments on Dr Erasmus Darwin’s interest in mental imagery.

Summary

Discusses Müller-Thurgau’s work on heliotropism. Will start on Thursday for Heidelberg and Strassburg.

Summary

Some papers have arrived for FD.

Comments on the work of Phillipe van Tieghem who evidently knows nothing of insectivorous plants.

Leslie Stephen’s visit to Down went off well.