From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [1 March 1881]

My dear W^m

We have had a most pleasant time & have seen every one we wished to see— among others M^rs R. Ritchie who won all our hearts by her pleasantness— She had just seen Lily at D^r Simon's (with whom she seems very intimate) M^r R's silence & gravity are rather repelling, but when he does speak he improves.

But I must tell you of F's visit to the Royal Inst— He was received by the Sec. M^r de la Rue who took him into a waiting room for the Swells for reserved seats & he was introduced right & left to every body— When he went into the Inst. he was rec^d with general clapping The lecture itself was an odd failure. D^r B. Sanderson is an extraordinary absent man & he went on so long with the preliminary observations that on looking at his watch his time was up & he was obliged to say that he c^d only give the results & wind up leaving all his Diagrams of plants &c unexplained. F. liked the lecture but did not think it w^d be generally interesting. Then he went up to Tyndall's rooms & was embraced (metaphorically) by the ladies— & he finds adulation very wholeQQQQ as he was not tired the next day— Yesterday he spent 1$\frac{1}{2}$ hr w. the D. of Argyll & enjoyed it v. much. They discussed the D's subjects— instinct— a first cause &c & he was struck by the entire absence of positiveness or bumptiousness in him— tho' they differed about most things. He thought the D. decidedly a modest man which is not one's usual impression. He means to come to Down— but I don't believe he will— I sh^d like to see him however. Today F. is having a long time w. Woodhouse & is not home yet.

We saw Eras. yesterday very cheerful in bed— He had been not so well the day before— I hear a good acct of him today—

Aunt Caroline wanted to hear of F's honour & glory— so will you send her this—

yours my dear W. | & S. E. D