From Horace Darwin to Emma Darwin [18 April 1879]

Dear Mother,

I received a letter from Sir. W. Thomson yesterday, asking me to come & sleep here which I consequencely did. Tomorrow I go on to Barlaston for the Sunday and on Monday perhaps to Manchester. Sir. W. T. is going to try an experiment this afternoon with lunar gravity. He has got a telephone from his laboratory to the instrument-maker, who makes his things for him. and he sent him long instructions about the instrument which will be ready this afternoon; he seems to do a great deal of talking through it, & I should think rather more than the instrument maker must like, but any how Sir. W. T. likes it. He is very cordial & pleasant, and so is Lady Thomson; they asked me to stay till Monday, but as I had proposed myself to Barlaston I did not like to put off more especially as a Sunday there would be much pleasanter than here.

Your affec son | Horace Darwin