e most lively interest
about his last visit to you, and I was grieved to hear from him a very
poor account of your health. I have been working for some time on a
special subject, namely insectivorous plants. I do not know whether the
subject will interest you, but when my book is published I will have the
pleasure of sending you a copy.

I am very much obliged for your photograph, and enclose one of myself.

LETTER 574*. TO S.B.J. SKERTCHLY. March 2nd, 1878.

It is the greatest possible satisfaction to a man nearly at the close
of his career to believe that he has aided or stimulated an able and
energetic fellow-worker in the noble cause of science. Therefore your
letter has deeply gratified me. I am writing this away from home, as my
health failed, and I was forced to rest; and this will account for the
delay in answering your letter. No doubt on my return home I shall find
the memoir which you have kindly sent me. I shall read it with much
interest, as I have heard something of your work from Prof. Geikie, and
have read his admirable "Ice Age." (574/5. "The Great Ice Age and its
Relation to the Antiquity of Man": London, 1874. By James Geikie.) I
have noticed the criticisms on your work, but such opposition must
be expected by every one who draws fine grand conclusions, and such
assuredly are yours as abstracted in your letter. (574/6. Mr. S.B.J.
Skertchly recorded "the discovery of palaeolithic flint implements,
mammalian bones, and fresh-water shells in brick-earths below the
Boulder-clay of East Anglia," in a letter published in the "Geol. Mag."
Volume III., page 476, 1876. (See also "The Fenland, Past and Present."
S.H. Miller and S.B.J. Skertchly, London, 1878.) The conclusions of Mr.
Skertchly as to the pre-Glacial age of the flint implements were not
accepted by some authorities. (See correspondence in "Nature," Volume
XV., 1877, pages 141, 142.) We are indebted to Mr. Marr for calling
our attention to Mr. Skertchly's discovery.) What magnificent progress
Geology has made within my lifetime!

I shall have very great pleasure in sending you any of my books with my
autograph, but I really do not know which to send. It will cost you only
the trouble of a postcard to tell me which you would like, and it shall
soon be sent. Forgive this untidy note, as it is rather an effort to
write.

With all good wishes for your continued success in science and for your
happiness...

CHAPTER 2.X.--BOTANY, 1843-1871.