74 GEOEGE JOHN EOMANES 187^ 



But I am still more sorry to hear of your feeling 

 knocked up. I meet your son here, who tells me 

 about you. 



Yesterday was the evening of my big lecture, and 

 I send you a copy as well as a newspaper account. 

 (The latter was in type before delivery, and so no 

 ' applauses,' &c. are put in.) The thing was a most 

 enormous success, far surpassing my utmost expecta- 

 tions. I had a number of jokes which do not appear 

 in the printed lecture, and I never saw an audience 

 laugh so much. The applause also was really extra- 

 ordinary, especially at some places, and most of all 

 at the mention of your name at the grand finale. 

 In fact, it was here tremendous, and a most impres- 

 sive sight to see such a multitude of people so enthu- 

 siastic. I expected an outburst, but the loud and 

 long-continued cheering beat anything that ever I 

 heard before. I do not know whether your son was 

 there, but if so he will tell you. 



Hooker, Huxley, Allen, and Sir W. Thomson, 

 Flower, D. Galton, and a lot of other good men were 

 present, and had nothing but praise to give. Captain 

 Galton going so far as to say that it was the most 

 successful lecture he had ever heard. So I am quite 

 conceited. 



Ever your devoted worshipper, 



Geo. J. KoMANEs. 



From G. Darwin, Esq, 



August 20, 1878. 



My dear Eomanes, — I am most heartily glad that 

 your lecture (just received and read) has been so 



