Yesterday was the ninth anniversary of our Wedding day, and at noon the German Imperial Consul called on me here and decorated me with the insignia of the Royal Prussian Order „Pour le Mérite” by the direction of your Kaiser!!
In the evening we had a number of friends at dinner and among them was our friend Rottenburgh who came from Glasgow. I feel very much that || your Emperor has conferred on me a very high distinction. I do not know who has informed him about me or by whose advice he has made me a Knight of this distinguished order, but this I do know, that it is because of what you have written about me that I am so well known to the German world. I feel that I really owe this great honour to your goodness of heart and to your generous || feelings towards me. I only hope that I truly deserve all the good things you have said about me. I write you therefore, at first, to thank you for this German honour. It has come indirectly if not directly from you I feel sure.
I have been from home, and on my return after the new year I found here a copy of the ninth edition of the „Schöpfungs-Geschichte”. Very many thanks. I am at present engaged in looking through || it in the evenings. You are an ever-active worker. I hope you enjoyed your trip in Russia after leaving St. Petersburg. I had great pleasure in dredging with Kowalewsky in the Crimea.
I hope we will see you here in the summer. If you will stay for some time we will arrange for dredging and a yacht cruise. I hope you and your family are very well. We send you all the good wishes for the new year,
