LATER YEARS 401 



of the Manganese Nodules. I warned the Fish Commis- 

 sion specially ahout the labels and the danger of their 

 being rubbed to pieces. But they are hopeless there, 

 nobody to care for anything. I may help you from my 

 original notebook when I get home. At Edinburgh all 

 I can do is to guess with the assistance of the list of 

 soundings where nature of bottoms is mentioned. 



I am getting cables daily from Boston — things look 

 pretty squally in copper line. My chief stay in the office 

 has just been ordered off South, and I don't yet know 

 if they can hold their breath till middle of April or 

 thereabout. I don't want to go home if I can help it, 

 for I feel the reaction from the warm weather and am 

 pretty well used up. I could not stand one of our bliz- 

 zards. 



My youngest son, Rodolphe, just telegraphed me he 

 is to be in London the 27th, with all the figures and 

 facts and suggestions, so that if nothing unforeseen 

 occurs before he sails, the 17th, I can stay here till then 

 and then take the first steamer for New York. In that 

 case I should meet him in London the 28th, 29th, go 

 to Edinburgh Sunday night, the 30th, give my Address 

 the next afternoon at 4, go to the dinner at 7.30, and 

 return if possible by the night train to London. I think 

 there is one at 11 p.m.? 



If you will kindly drop me a line if that is possible, 

 I might by time I got your reply be able to say yes or 

 no. Glad to hear from you that my Preliminary Report 

 of Pacific pleases you and looks well. Hope you got the 

 little Maldive pamphlet I sent from Ceylon. 



On his return to America he paid his usual spring 

 visit to Calumet, from whence he writes : — 



