_June._--Mr. Spottiswoode's death has been a terrible blow. Service at the Abbey. We put off our party on June 27th; it seemed improper to have a party, mainly composed of scientific people, the very day after the death of the President of the Royal Society. _12th._--Dinner at the Pagets'. Met Browning,[44] who is entirely on Carlyle's side _à propos_ of Froude's recent revelations. _15th._--Went to Professor and Mrs. Allman, at Parkston. He is a most fascinating naturalist of the old type, caring for birds, and beasts, and flowers. Met Mr. E. Clodd the other night, who alluded to 'Physicus'[45] and the tone of depression in the book. ('Candid Examination of Theism.') This year Mr. Romanes and Professor Ewart set up a small laboratory on the Geanies coast, and the Journal notes: Professor Ewart could not get the farmhouse he hoped, and this was unfortunate, as he had written to the British Association and invited one or two foreigners to come and work and live in this farmhouse. In vain were the foreigners warned not to come, for one evening in walked a young Dane, who preceded a postcard he had sent announcing his arrival. Very nice, and extremely embarrassed at finding himself in a country house where people dressed for dinner. However, he got accommodation in the neighbourhood and worked at Ascidians, but the experiment of inviting stray foreign scientists was abandoned. _Sept._--The Allmans, Turners, and Mr. Lockyer have been here, and we have been getting up some private theatricals. _Jan. 1884._--Lecture at the Royal Institution on 'the Darwinian Theory of Instinct.' _To Miss C. E. Romanes._ January 5, 1884. I am preparing a beautiful surprise for Ethel after she comes down again. The library is to have its end wall papered and panelled, the conservatory is to be painted green, and filled with stands of flowers, and the little room is to have the window filled with stained glass, the walls, ceiling, and doors, beautifully papered and decorated. I expect my book to pay the bills. Is not this a nice idea? Little Ethel's ideas about writing, by the way, are original. A few days ago she wanted me to play at gee-gee. I said, 'No, Ethel, father is writing.' She asked, 'Writing letters or writing book?' I said, 'Writing book.' Whereupon she made the shrewd remark--'Father not writing to anybody, father can play gee-gee.' So much for her estimate of my popularity as an author. _Journal, April._--Lecture at Manchester; stayed with Professor Boyd Dawkins. This year Mr. Romanes attended Canon Curteis' 'Boyle Lectures' at Whitehall. _Journal, March 1883._--'G. Lectured at ----. One of the hearers asked whether in the lecturer's opinion man or animals had first appeared on the earth! G. spent a pleasant day at Bromsgrove with the F. Pagets.' _To James Romanes, Esq._ 18 Cornwall Terrace, Regent's Park, N.W.: June 1, 1884.