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. 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- 
