1838.] FITTON, BOOTT. 265 



the Athenaeum has not been thrown away, and I enjoy it the 

 more because I fully expected to detest it. 



I am writing you a most unmerciful letter, but I shall get 

 Owen to take it to Newcastle. If you have a mind to be a 

 very generous man you will write to me from Kinnordy,* and 

 tell me some Newcastle news, as well as about the Craig, and 

 about yourself and Mrs. Lyell, and everything else in the 

 world. I will send by Hall the ' Entomological Transactions,' 

 which I have borrowed for you ; you will be disappointed in 



's papers, that is if you suppose my dear friend has a 



single clear idea upon any one subject. He has so involved 

 recent insects and true fossil insects in one table that I fear 

 you will not make much out of it, though it is a subject which 

 ought I should think to come into the ' Principles.' You will 

 be amused at some of the ridiculo-sublime passages in the 

 papers, and no doubt will feel acutely a sneer there is at your- 

 self. I have heard from more than one quarter that quarrel- 

 ling is expected at Newcastle ; f I am sorry to hear it. I met 



old this evening at the Athenaeum, and he muttered 



something about writing to you or some one on the subject ; 

 I am however all in the dark. I suppose, however, I shall be 

 illuminated, for I am going to dine with him in a few days, as 

 my inventive powers failed in making any excuse. A friend 

 of mine dined with him the other day, a party of four, and 

 they finished ten bottles of wine — a pleasant prospect for me ; 

 but I am determined not even to taste his wine, partly for the 

 fun of seeing his infinite disgust and surprise. . . . 



I pity you the infliction of this most unmerciful letter. 

 Pray remember me most kindly to Mrs. Lyell when you arrive 

 at Kinnordy. I saw her name in the landlord's book of In- 

 verorum. Tell Mrs. Lyell to read the second series of ' Mr. 

 Slick of Slickville's Sayings.' . . . He almost beats "Samivel," 

 that prince of heroes. Good night, my dear Lyell ; you will 

 think I have been drinking some strong drink to write so 



*The house of Lyell's father. 



f At the meeting of the British Association. 



13 



