THKEE GEEAT SCENES 365 



South Victoria Land, with Mount Erebus blazing in front. 

 The other the first view of the Himalaya, as seen from 

 Darjeeling, covering perhaps 100 of one of the horizons with 

 perpetual snow, with Kinchinjunga, 28,000 feet, towering 

 over all. 



Thanks too for your kind words on my G.C.S.I., which 

 took me quite by surprise, and all the more from my not 

 knowing a single member of the India Council (except a 

 bowing acquaintance with Lord G. Hamilton) even by sight ! 

 and indeed I only now know it by the Times ! I had a few 

 weeks previously received the rare honour of an official letter 

 from the Governor- General and Council of India, reinforced 

 by the Secretary of State for India, thanking me for my 

 services to India. !]Jhis I thought a superabundant reward 

 for anything I had done. As it is, had I ever thought it 

 within reach, there is no honour of [that] kind that I would 

 have coveted more than that so unexpectedly bestowed 

 upon me. 



To Mrs. Lyell 



September 9, 1897. 



We have been very quiet all the summer, making very 

 short visits, to F. Darwin at Cambridge ; to the unveiling 

 of the capital Darwin statue at Shrewsbury ; to the Farrers 

 for a couple of days ; to my sister at Torquay for a week, 

 and to Osborne to receive my decorations from the Queen. 

 They are gorgeous, star and badge ablaze with diamonds, 

 with the consequence that I do not like keeping such property 

 in the house for fear of burglars ! We have still a few more 

 visits to pay, and then I hope to be quiet for the winter. . 



