LETTERS* 

 (1852-1892) 



[To Miss Heathorn. London, November 13, 1852. On 

 learning that the Royal Medal was to be conferred 

 upon him for his paper on the Medusae.] 



Going last week to the Royal Society's library for a 



5 book, and like the boy in church " thinkin' o' naughten," 



when I went in, Weld, the Assistant Secretary, said, 



" Well, I congratulate you." I confess I did not see at 



that moment what any mortal man had to congratulate 



'me about. I had a deuced bad cold, with rheumatism 



10 in my head ; it was a beastly November day and I was very 

 grumpy, so I inquired in a state of mild surprise what 

 might be the matter. Whereupon I learnt that the Medal 

 had been conferred at the meeting of the Council on the 

 day before. I was very pleased and I thought you would 



15 be so too, and I thought moreover that it was a fine lever 

 to help us on, and if I could have sent a letter to you 

 immediately I should have sat down and have written one 

 to you on the spot. As it is I have waited for official 

 confirmation and a convenient season. 



20 And, now, shall I be very naughty and make a con- 

 fession? The thing that a fortnight ago (before I got it) 

 I thought so much of, I give you my word I do not care 



* These letters are republished here by permission of D.' Apple- 

 ton and Company. 



16 



