1883-92 LETTERS TO HIS GRANDSON 267 



My part in the proceedings was comparatively 



easy, being confined to the reception of the Gold 



Medal. This concluded the Linnean meeting, 



which was fully attended, with a gallery of fair 



ladies. I was kindly led to an arm-chair near 



the President, but the meeting was longer than 



Chadwick could wait for, so I got a train to 



Mortlake, and found a spare cab which set me 



down at my gate. . . . Quartos and other forms 



of publications arrive almost daily from divers 



parts of the world. I enclose a cheque, so I 



trust you will not think " there is nothing in this 



letter " ' 



ltjutjr ' March 8, 1889. 



' I was glad to know the interval between this 

 date and your arrival here is so brief. The ice is 

 now off the pond and my white ducks on it. 



' I find eighty-five years a heavy weight to 

 carry, but I shall endeavour shortly to get up to 

 town and look in at the Athenaeum again.' 



Sept. 27, 1890. 



' I look forward to lasting to greet you here at 

 your Christmas holidays. You deserve a longer 

 letter than my late severe illness has left me the 

 power to write. Should you finally determine to 

 take Holy Orders, I please myself in believing 

 that you will do well in the Church ; but, however 

 this may happen, I pray God that He will guide 

 you to a satisfactory career.' 



Sir Richard still received occasional commu- 



