1872 LETTER TO DOHRN 77 



his old enemy returned. Early hours, the avoidance 

 of society and societies, an hour's riding before start- 

 ing at nine for South Kensington, were all useless ; 

 the whole year was poisoned until a special diet 

 prescribed by Dr. (afterwards Sir) Andrew Clark, 

 followed by another trip abroad, effected a cure. I 

 remember his saying once that he learned by sad 

 experience that such a holiday as that in Egypt was 

 no good for him. What he really required was 

 mountain air and plenty of exercise. The following 

 letters fill up the outline of this period : 



26 ABBEY PLACE, May 20, 1872. 



MY DEAR DOHRN I suppose that you are now back 

 in Naples, perambulating the Chiaja, and looking ruefully 

 on the accumulation of ashes on the foundations of the 

 aquarium ! The papers, at any rate, tell us that the 

 ashes of Vesuvius have fallen abundantly at Naples. 

 Moreover, that abominable municipality is sure to have 

 made the eruption an excuse for all sorts of delays. May 

 the gods give you an extra share of temper and patience ! 



What an unlucky dog our poor Ray is, to go and get 

 fever when of all times in the world's history he should 

 not have had it However, I hear he is better and on 

 his way home. I hope he will be well enough when he 

 returns not only to get his Fellowship, but to help me in 

 my schoolmaster work it June and July. 



I was greatly disgust&l to miss you in Naples, but it 

 was something to find your father instead. What a 

 vigorous, genial youngster of threescore and ten he is. I 

 declare I felt quite aged beside him. We had a glorious 

 day on Vesuvius, and behaved very badly by leaving him 

 at the inn for I do not know how many hours, while we 

 wandered about the cone. But he had a very charming 

 young lady for companion, and possibly had the best of 



