From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [17 November 1877]

My dear W^m.

It was a great disappt yr not coming yesterday to witness the honours to F. & so I will tell you all about it— Bessy & I & the 2 youngest brothers went first to the Senate Hall & got in by a side door, & a most striking sight it was— The gallery crammed to overflowing w. Under graduates, & the floor crammed too w. Under gs climbing on the statues & standing up in the windows.

There seemed to be periodical cheering in answer to jokes which sounded deafening; but when F. came in in his red cloak ushered in by some authorities, it was perfectly deafening for some minutes. I thought he w^d be overcome but he was quite stout & smiling & sat for a considerable time waiting for the Vice Chancellor. The time was filled up with shouts & jokes & groans for an unpopular Proctor Mr Humphery which were quite awful & he looked up at them w. a stern angry face w. was v. bad policy. We had been watching some cords stretched across from one gallery to another wondering what was to happen; but were not surprized to see a monkey dangling down, which caused shouts & jokes about our ancestors & c. A proctor was foolish enough to go up to capture it & at last it disappeared I don't know how. Then came a sort of ring tied with ribbons w. we conjectured to be the ""Missing Link"". At last the Vice Ch. appeared more bowing & hand shaking & then F. was marched down the aisle behind 2 men w. silver maces & the unfortunate public orator came & stood by him & got thro' his very tedious harangue as he c^d, constantly interrupted by the most unmannerly shouts & jeers & when he had continued what seems an enormous time some one called out in a cheerful tone ""Thank you kindly""  At last he got to the end w. admirable nerve & temper & there they all marched back to the Vice Ch. in scarlet & white fur & F. joined his hands & did not kneel but the Vice Ch. put his hands outside & said a few Latin words & then it was over & every body came up & shook hands—

Of all days in the year I had a baddish headache but by dint of opium managed to go & enjoyed it all. I sh^d have been most sorry to miss it. F. has been to Newton's Museum today & seen many people—also a brilliant luncheon at G— H. Sidgwicks (she is v. nice) & Miss Gladstone also v. pleasant— J. W Clarke did me a good turn as I followed his lead in tasting Gallantine which is v superior.

Sidgwicks stammer is so rapid that it sounds like some small machine whirring but he does not mind it himself & is agreeable & entertaining

Now we are expecting F. Galton & Fawcett for an evening call & we mean to wind up by Trinity Chapel—which I can't believe F. will be up to- –-

F. has been thoroughly pleased by the cordiality of every one–-

Aunt Caroline wanted to hear all about it so will you send this long screed to her–-

I felt very grand walking about w my L.L.D in his silk gown—