I was glad to see the “Creameries”[[112]] in the “Times,” and glad to see also that it was properly placed at the top of the column. I thought you wrote very firmly and well.
P.S.—I have not sent [copies of the Manual] (though you kindly said I might) to the Clubs. I have not the courage; so many of the members might not care for Economic Entomology.
December 15, 1900.
I think I am being very good! in seldom letting the “Reminiscences” meddle really with work, but rest time (wet afternoons) helps. One thing more, I remembered I had a part given me by my mother of my father’s “queue” (Anglice, “pigtail”) cut off in the year of their marriage, 1808, and I think this might come in nicely.
December 21, 1900.
I quite forgot to thank you for your Indian Examination questions,[[113]] which was wrong of me, for I like very much to have all the information they point to, though I am afraid there are scarcely two I could answer.
January 18, 1901.
My account of myself is—I am fairly well all but rheumatism; only, last Saturday the disaster happened of a blood-vessel breaking in my left eye. These affairs seem seldom of consequence, but this time my doctor told me (after two or three days) that he did not remember excepting from external circumstances that he ever knew such a great breakage. So I was an absolute spectacle for some time, but the sight is not at all injured, and the organ recovering well, and I may write as much as I like. I now enclose six more illustrations—I think in their way they are all nice.
January 27, 1901.
As you kindly say that even more than a good report of “Reminiscences” you would like to hear I am better, I am truly thankful to say that I am quite as usual again, and my eye recovered. There has been some sort of illness about but I had it very lightly. I hope the very bad day for His Majesty’s Proclamation brought no serious harm to yourself. An Edinburgh “inquirer” informed me that he thought numbers of the spectators would catch their deaths of cold. I was truly pleased to see that the King duly promised to support “The Church of Scotland,” a matter I have more at heart than on my tongue here! You will value Her Majesty’s approval of your “Indian Famine” lecture more than ever now. I certainly should have liked myself to have a tiny bit even of approval.