26 Abbey Place, May 20, 1872.

My dear Dohrn,

I suppose that you are now back in Naples, perambulating the Chiaja, and looking ruefully on the accumulation of ashes on the foundations of the aquarium!  The papers, at any rate, tell us that the ashes of Vesuvius have fallen abundantly at Naples.  Moreover, that abominable municipality is sure to have made the eruption an excuse for all sorts of delays.  May the gods give you an extra share of temper and patience!

What an unlucky dog our poor Ray is, to go and get fever when of all times in the world’s history he should not have had it.  However, I hear he is better and on his way home.  I hope he will be well enough when he returns not only to get his Fellowship, but to help me in my schoolmaster work in June and July.

I was greatly disgusted to miss you in Naples, but it was something to find your father instead.  What a vigorous, genial youngster of three score and ten he is.  I declare I felt quite aged beside him.  We had a glorious day on Vesuvius, and behaved very badly by leaving him at the inn for I do not know how many hours, while we wandered about the cone.  But he had a very charming young lady for companion, and possibly had the best of it.  I am very sorry that at the last I went off in a hurry without saying “Good-bye” to him, but I desired Lankester to explain, and I am sure he will have sympathised with my anxiety to see Rome.

I returned, thinking myself very well, but a bad fit of dyspepsia seized me, and I found myself obliged to be very idle and very careful of myself—­neither of which things are to my taste.  But I am right again now, and hope to have no more backslidings.  However, I am afraid I may not be able to attend the Brighton meeting.  In which case you will have to pay us a visit, wherever we may be—­where, we have not yet made up our minds, but it will not be so far as St. Andrews.

Now for a piece of business.  The new Governor of Ceylon is a friend of mine, and is proposing to set up a Natural History Museum in Ceylon.  He wants a curator—­some vigorous fellow with plenty of knowledge and power of organisation who will make use of his great opportunities.  He tells me he thinks he can start him with 350 pounds sterling a year (and a house) with possible increase to 400 pounds sterling.  I do not know any one here who would answer the purpose.  Can you recommend me any one?  If you can, let me know at once, and don’t take so long in writing to me as I have been in writing to you.

I await the “Prophecies of the Holy Antonius” anxiously. [His work on the development of the Arthropoda or Spider family.] Like the Jews of old, I come of an unbelieving generation, and need a sign.  The bread and the oil, also the chamber in the wall shall not fail the prophet when he comes in August:  nor Donner and Blitzes either.

I leave the rest of the space for the wife.

Ever yours,