To Charles Lyell 16 March 1860

My dear Lyell,

I have by no means given up the idea of going to Abbeville. My wish is to stay at least a week there with my Daughter, & visit the pits daily. I don't care so much about finding Celts, for I am quite satisfied they occur in the Drift. What I want to feel thoroughly satisfied about, is the character of the Drift itself. If we could square our opportunities so as to emigrate together I should indeed be delighted. I have been, by letter, commended to Mons. de Perthes by an old friend of his Mr Leaths of Herringfleet, & he assures me (thro' Mr L.) of all sorts of consideration. By the way, Mr L. had 1207 fine trees blown down in the late storm! I lost 6 upon my few square acres. Touching opportunities - here lies the difficulty with people occupied from Breakfast till midnight with their own & other peoples' affairs. I can't now possibly get across before going to Cambridge for my Lectures - but I have gained opportunities this year, by declining to stand as Examiner at the London University, now requiring 7 Examinations instead of 4, & 1/4 perC^t discount from salary. What with 7 in London (for pay) & 4 at Cambridge (for love) I should have felt myself uncomfortably hampered, & write off thats the examined themselves mentally & physically. My pocket memory informs me that I have to lecture at Ipswich on the 29 - to go to Cambridge from April 16 to May 28 (or perhaps, but not necessarily, a week later) between this & Oxford (I don't exactly know when we meet there) seems to me the best opportunity I shall possess for feeding the Channel Fish. Mrs Barnard is to be here, to add (I trust) one of 3 more grandchildren expected this summer! & our Village affairs set in very early in July. If you determine upon going, & (when determined) let me know your time, I will endeavour to arrange to go at the same time. Mr Evans talked also of another trip, as likewise Mr Prestwich - but you, of course, know much more than I do of their intentions. I send you Sedgwick's N. S. paper, that you may send him answers to questions 11 & 12! I have supplied C. D. himself. Sedgwick said he would allow just as many marks for a clever support of D's views, as for remarks which he himself should consider q. s. in contradiction of them. I see by our Bury Paper, that Agassiz has been lecturing in opposition to them. Pray thank Lady L. for her Card. If it should happen that the Election for Examiners at the L. U. takes place that day I shall most probably be up to vote, otherwise I fear I am not likely to indulge myself with a holiday that would be wholly divested of some little dash of duty or business to allay it.

Kind regards to her & believe me

Very sincerely yrs

J. S. Henslow

Are the Celt models likely ready before my Ipswich lecture on the 29^th?