I was from home when the notice came of your daughter’s engagement to be married. At first my wife thought of writing to her but she thought it best eventually to wait till my return. We both wish her much joy and many happy days. We neither of us know much about your marriage customs, and we don’t || know whether she is likely to be married soon or years after this. At all events we hope that this engagement will not prevent either you or your daughter from visiting us as arranged during next August. If necessary let the young man come too! for if he does not some Highlander may put his eye out!!!
Prince Monaco is coming here in June with his fine new || dredging yacht. Early next month I will commence to fit out my little boat the „Medusa”, and in July sometime, after the baby arrives! we will take a house on the west coast, so as to be near the waters for a study of „Plankton”. We can make 50 hauls each day in different depths down to 100 fathoms. We sometimes made that number in the Challenger in one day but usually many fewer, but on the whole there must have been 3000 hauls taken during the Challenger Expedition. ||
Could you give me the names of the genera, if not of the species, on the enclosed figures? I would be much obliged if you could indicate at all events the genera of the specimens to which numbers are attached on the index covers. Please return the figures to me with such indications as you can give.