From W. C. Williamson   17 November 1880

My Dear Dr Darwin

It has been a great satisfaction to me that you have received our Deputation so kindly.¹ I was only afraid lest it should tire you, knowing as I do how much conversation fatigues you when you are not quite well. My little regiment has been delighted beyond measure with your kind reception of them. They certainly were thoroughly & sincerely earnest in their work—

I only regret that I was unable to accompany them owing to home duties— We are worked to ⁠⟨⁠de⁠⟩⁠ath here with our preparations for floating the Victoria University.² I had no idea that so much labour would be involved in working out the preparatory details   Allow me now however to add my small personal congratulations to those of my Yorkshire Colleagues

You may be interested to know that I now begin to see my way towards reconciling our Carboniferous Flora with Evolution. I have introduced a long paragraph to that effect into my memoir Part XI now in the hands of the Royal Society.³ My only fear is that in their craving for the curtailment of all memoirs, the Paper’s Committee may cut it out. Anyhow I have thrown the responsibility of doing so on them

With kind regards to your son⁴—& regret that I have lost this opportunity of becoming acquainted with your domestic circle I am My Dear Sir | most sincerely yours | W C Williamson

Dont trouble to acknowledge ⁠⟨⁠this⁠⟩⁠— I know that correspondence fatigues you & you must have much of it!