Iamlivingveryquietly，andthereforepleasantly，andamcrawlingonslowlybutsteadilywithmywork。Ihavecometooneconclusion，whichyouwillthinkprovesmetobeaverysensibleman，namely，thatwhateveryousayprovesright;andasaproofofthis，Iamcomingintoyourwayofonlyworkingabouttwohoursataspell;Ithengooutanddomybusinessinthestreets，returnandsettoworkagain，andthusmaketwoseparatedaysoutofone。Thenewplananswerscapitally;afterthesecondhalfdayisfinishedIgoanddineattheAthenaeumlikeagentleman，orratherlikealord，forIamsurethefirsteveningIsatinthatgreatdrawing—room，allonasofabymyself，Ifeltjustlikeaduke。IamfullofadmirationattheAthenaeum，onemeetssomanypeopletherethatonelikestosee。TheveryfirsttimeIdinedthere（i。e。lastweek）ImetDr。Fitton（W。H。
Fitton（1780—1861）wasaphysicianandgeologist，andsometimepresidentoftheGeologicalSociety。Heestablishedthe’Proceedings，’amodeofpublicationafterwardsadoptedbyothersocieties。）atthedoor，andhegottogetherquiteaparty——RobertBrown，whoisgonetoParisandAuvergne，Macleay[？]andDr。Boott。（FrancisBoott（1792—1863）ischieflyknownasabotanistthroughhisworkonthegenusCarex。Hewasalsowell—knowninconnectionwiththeLinneanSocietyofwhichhewasformanyyearsanoffice—bearer。Heisdescribed（inabiographicalsketchpublishedinthe\"Gardener’sChronicle\"，1864）ashavingbeenoneofthefirstphysiciansinLondonwhogaveupthecustomaryblackcoat，knee—breechesandsilkstockings，andadoptedtheordinarydressoftheperiod，abluecoatwithbrassbuttons，andabuffwaiscoat，acostumewhichhecontinuedtoweartothelast。Aftergivinguppractice，whichhedidearlyinlife，hespentmuchofhistimeinactsofunpretendingphilanthropy。）YourhelpingmeintotheAthenaeumhasnotbeenthrownaway，andIenjoyitthemorebecauseIfullyexpectedtodetestit。
Iamwritingyouamostunmercifulletter，butIshallgetOwentotakeittoNewcastle。IfyouhaveamindtobeaverygenerousmanyouwillwritetomefromKinnordy（ThehouseofLyell’sfather。），andtellmesomeNewcastlenews，aswellasabouttheCraig，andaboutyourselfandMrs。
Lyell，andeverythingelseintheworld。IwillsendbyHallthe’EntomologicalTransactions，’whichIhaveborrowedforyou;youwillbedisappointedin——’spapers，thatisifyousupposemydearfriendhasasingleclearideauponanyonesubject。HehassoinvolvedrecentinsectsandtruefossilinsectsinonetablethatIfearyouwillnotmakemuchoutofit，thoughitisasubjectwhichoughtIshouldthinktocomeintothe’Principles。’Youwillbeamusedatsomeoftheridiculo—sublimepassagesinthepapers，andnodoubtwillfeelacutelyasneerthereisatyourself。
IhaveheardfrommorethanonequarterthatquarrellingisexpectedatNewcastle（AtthemeetingoftheBritishAssociation。）;Iamsorrytohearit。Imetold——thiseveningattheAthenaeum，andhemutteredsomethingaboutwritingtoyouorsomeoneonthesubject;Iamhoweverallinthedark。Isuppose，however，Ishallbeilluminated，forIamgoingtodinewithhiminafewdays，asmyinventivepowersfailedinmakinganyexcuse。