From Leonard Horner 28 November 1854

My Dear Sir

It would have given us great pleasure to have received you in the way you kindly propose, but on Saturday last we offered a visit to some friends in Surrey of about a week, to commence from next Saturday and this morning we received their acceptance. We are thus obliged to defer the pleasure of seeing you here, I hope not for a long time; & the sooner you can name a day when you expect to be in town the more agreeable it will be to us.

No calamity was ever more deplored in the loss of an individual, whether in respect of friendship or science than that of Edward Forbes has been – it is indeed as regards the sciences he cultivated inseparable, & a grievous blow to Edinburgh University.

I cannot understand how you succeed in making such excellent impressions of cellular tissue with ink– if it is easy & applicable to other parts of the plant, how useful for illustrations at small cost.

With our best regards to Mrs Henslow & your family–

I am ever faithfully yours

Leonard Horner

Observe in our address that West belongs to Road, & not to Regents. I write on paper made of straw.