From Michael Foster   20 September 1871

My dear Sir.

I have just got back from a little trip on the continent and found your letter forwarded to me here from Cambridge. I have no doubt that when I go back to Trinity in a day or two I shall find the curari all right¹   It has been a great pleasure to me to have given you any help—even towards a negative result (for negative results are wholesome though bitter) and I do hope that if ever you want anything that lies in my way you will let me know at once.²

Anything that you want doing, I should be only too happy either to do myself or to get one of my students to do. I mean to have a good hard try to get physiology thoroughly established at Cambridge.³ I am afraid you will think it rather shabby to have threatened to come over to Down and yet never to have come.⁴ I found my time so much more occupied than I expected and could not get a free day. Perhaps some day I may have the pleasure of seeing you—but meanwhile please do not forget that you have only to whisper a wish to Trinity and it will be heard.

Believe me | Ever yours | M. Foster