[1]

Saturday [16 April] 1881

DOWN,

BECKENHAM, KENT

RAILWAY STATION

ORPINGTON. S.E.R.

My dear George

I wonder how you are getting on & how cold you are. I was very glad to hear that you were able to work a good bit before you left Cam ─ I suppose Helmholtz will be interesting but not entertaining by Richards acct (who met him at the Dicey's) he says that his way of speaking was so very measured & slow that was heavy ─

[2]

I wonder how cold you are. Here we want rain terribly but the days are pleasant & lawn tennis has begun ─ Leo. goes today to spend the Sunday at the Brasseys ─ Bernard had a delightful treat this mg with a little bonfire in the orchard, & he & Leo. being Red Indians ─ He has quite got over Marianne's departure ─ The poor soul in spite of her apparent stoicism could not get over it so easily & cd

[3]

not sleep for some nights. We had a call from Alice & Madame Helmholtz ─ She is niece to old Mme Mohl & a very lively agreeable woman & F. flirted v. prettily with her. He has been led by an appreciation from a Swedish man of science to send his opinion on vivisection or rather experiments on live animals to the Times.

There is a great attack going on at this time so it is quite à propos ─ The Swede asked his opinion as he had heard him quoted as a complete opponent of experiment ─

[4]

The Litches will be here on Wed ─ & the Horaces gone to Abinger. The Dickys are invited for Saturday the 23rd & also the V. Marshalls. So I hope you are going to stay on a bit. F. is in a gap waiting for his proof sheets with nothing to do, w. is always trying ─

I enclose a note from Sara w. I don't want back. Since them Wm has found it too warm ─ & looked up an old water cure cripple friend he used to like. R. is gone to Cheltenham to the Tukes ─ yours my dear G ─ E. D.