From Leonard Darwin to G. H. Darwin 8 February 1878

Dear George

I am home for my regulation Saturday and Sunday only I came on Friday night instead as they had the Houle's to dinner. I think they are pleasant people, and M^r. Houle seems to have a good deal of sense, and is a liberal. He was saying that the city is nearly universally Turkish, and any expressing Russian symathies at Lloyds is nearly hissed. I heard a ponderous joke supposed to have been made by Bismark, but I think that it was nearly fresh from the cow when I heard it, viz that speech is silver, silence is golden, and to make a statement and then retract it is Britannia metal. People were much excited on Thursday night, when it was believed that the Russians were in Constantinople. I was at the War Office at the time, and happened to come across Col. Home and other big wigs, and they all seemed much excited, but did not seem to think that we should go to war. What the use of this 6 millions is, is more than I can imagine; they could hardly increase the expenditure by a million a week, except by war being declared. I suppose the Dockyards will go ahead as quickly as possible, ditto the arsenal, and that will be a good thing from all points of view. My knee is a great deal better, and I have not worn the knee cap for more than 10 days; besides that I have little news of myself, as we have had nothing stirring at Chatham. They have made me Mess Secretary for 6 weeks whilst another mean is on leave; it is a great nuisance as I dislike the work very much  They may have some idea of making me do it for a year, but I think I shall be able to fight that I have also been put on the Committee of the Institute; that is a sort of an RE association for publishing papers on RE subject, and the Pickaxe, maps of the seat -of war & anything that is likely to be useful to the corps. I am glad of it as the committee meets in London once a month, and I like the excuse for going up, and I meet a good many senior officers there.

Fathers plants do not seem to have been behaving at all right: he thinks now that plants have not got eyes, but that if you shut off the light from any part of the stem, it will prevent the stem bending, which is nearly as curious as the eyes. (The black ink is so bad I cant use it) He has also been trying some experiments about putting out plants in the frost, and has been much bothered by the frost going just as he wanted it  This has all made him work too hard, and last night he had rather a bad fit of giddyness and could hardly stand, but this morning he seems as right as ever. Horace tells me to tell you that Newton told him to tell you that you are to make Lord Lillford's acquaintance and that he, Newton, would write to the aforesaid Lord Lilford  I think that the latter way of spelling is correct. I am very glad you have made some friends out there as it makes such a difference in the cheerfulness of a foreign country, more than it does in England where you have your regular occupations. Frank has been staying away from Home for some days, which is a very good thing, as it used to be so difficult to move him from home. He has been staying with Crawley most of the time, and has got through a lot of music. Last night he was to sleep at the Nashes, after going to his music at Lewisham and comes home tomorrow. Horace is here from Brighton where he is at work for a bit, and seems to like it very much; he says he is going to write to you soon.

Richard is rather feeble, but as far as I can see is improving slowly. It is hard lines on me because I could say with truth this time that the postman is waiting and I must shut up; it is a good old ending for a short letter wasted

Yours ever | Leonard Darwin