302 The Naturalist of Cumbrae. 



Dohrn's personal acquaintance, and we will promise 

 not to tell her of all the tricks that you used to play." 



In the early part of the following year, another 

 letter to Dohrn conveys some of the family history 



"Mv DEAR DR. DOHRN, 



"Your letter of February 22 is to hand, 

 and it throws, as a letter from you always does, 

 a glow of happiness over us all, and in this case it is 

 doubly so, as we are to have the pleasure once more 

 of seeing you at Millport, and the happiness of 

 making your dear wife's personal acquaintance. I 

 hope you will be able to spare time to let us take 

 another ' general survey ' of the bays and creeks 

 round the Great and Lesser Cumbraes. 



" David is now a married man, and is at present in 

 London on his marriage trip. Thomas proposes to 

 enter into the same condition some time in July. 

 The ceremony will take place in the Isle of Man, the 

 home of his betrothed. 



"This has been a bitter cold winter, and the mor- 

 tality bill of Glasgow unprecedentedly high sixty-five 

 deaths to the thousand inhabitants, more than double 

 the usual average. Both Mrs. Robertson and I have 

 had our share of illness, but mine was trifling. She 

 was confined to her bed for the greater part of the 

 first two months of the year ; but I am happy to say 

 that she is now much better, and in the fair way of 

 recovery, and we hope that in a short time she will be 

 enjoying her usual good health. 



" We are all glad to hear that everything is going 



