1875 FIKST MEETING WITH DAEWIN 13 



very gratifying to me, especially as pronounced in the 

 studiously dignified manner of the Vice-Chancellor. 



I hope soon to see you and tell you more about 

 the whole thing ; for one of the best parts of it is, 

 that ' if one member be honoured, all the members 

 rejoice with it.' 



Ever your loving Brother, 



Geo. J. Komanes. 



During his convalescence Mr. Eomanes finally 

 abandoned the idea of a profession and resolved to 

 devote himself to scientific research. 



It was about this time that a letter of his in 

 i Nature ' (see ' Nature,' vol. viii. p. 101) attracted 

 Mr. Darwin's attention, and caused him to send a 

 friendly little note to the youthful writer. 



Probably Mr. Darwin had little idea of the effect 

 his letter produced on its recipient, who was then 

 recovering from his long illness. That Darwin should 

 actually write to him seemed too good to believe. It 

 was a great encouragement to go on with scientific 

 work. 



' Up to 1873 or 1874 Mr. Eomanes had been work- 

 ing, when at Cambridge, in Dr. Michael Foster's 

 laboratory, and was a member of that band who 

 formed the nucleus of what was destined to be the 

 famous physiological school of Cambridge. Side by 

 side with Mr. Eomanes were working Mr. Gaskell, Mr. 

 Dew Smith, and others now well known for their work 

 and achievements. 



In some ways Mr. Eomanes suffered from not 

 remaining at Cambridge and becoming a permanent 

 member of the band. 



It is impossible not to feel that had he stayed on 



