M GEOBGE JOHN EOMANES 1879- 



He lectured a good deal in provincial towns, and 

 gave several Friday evening discourses at the Royal 

 Institution. Lecturing, even in days of failing health, 

 was always a pleasure, never a burden to him. In 

 one of the following letters is a mock triumphant 

 description of a lecture in Glasgow, written purely to 

 amuse his wife, and provoke some mock depreciatory 

 remarks. 



To Mrs. 'Romanes. 



Edinburgh: November 1880. 



In the evening I went to Professor 's dinner, 



which was a most gorgeous affair. The feed was 

 sumptuous, and the guests the best that Edinburgh 

 had to afford. There were twelve of us, all except 

 myself and Hullah (the musician), professors of the 

 University. I sat next to one of the latter — 

 Turner, who, as his handsome namesake might say, 

 has done original work. The advantage of meeting 

 celebrated men when oneself is also a celebrated man 

 (how sweet is self-contentment ! ) is that the two 

 know all about each other before they meet, and 

 so meet as friends already. Turner is a man of great 

 general intelligence, and as it is needless to tell 

 you that Romanes is the same, of course they got on 

 delightfully. In proof of which he asked me to go 

 with him next day to see the new hospital and 

 medical schools, which, when finished, are to be the 

 largest in the world and cost nearly half a million 

 of money. We agreed that he should call for me at 

 ten, which he did to-day. We two then drove to the 

 buildings, and, between exploring them and the old 



