Lockyer has asked me to go with him in the American Eclipse Expedition. I have a good mind to do so, but I have written to say that I was not sure that I could make the observations alone (!), and that it would be very desirable that you should go too! So we shall see what comes of it. I am unfortunately laid up with an attack of gout, which quite disables me and reduces me to the level of the beasts that perish. However, I hope soon to be all right again. I will write to Francis about the Lisbon paper, which ought certainly to be out.… Did Schorlemmer write to you about your attacking the Germans for attacking the French? He was quite wild, and came up to me in such a state of excitement that I could scarcely understand what he said. However, under the influence of cigars and a bottle of sherry he cooled down again and perhaps has buried his resentment. Huxley comes for the first of the Science Lectures on Friday. I am delighted to hear of your numbers of evening students, and was much pleased by your Introductory. I have no doubt that the laboratory will fill too. You must have patience. * * * * * OWENS COLLEGE, MANCHESTER, _November 19, 1870_. _Of course_ you come to Sicily.… Lockyer thinks of going on December 8th. Perhaps I may go a day earlier—with you if you can come—and spend twenty-four hours in Heidelberg. I send box, stand, papers, and all I can find—except insolation affairs which cannot yet be got out of H⸺’s hands. He shall have no peace till they are ready, and they shall then be sent at once to you. _You_ will be responsible for the whole apparatus being in order. Look them over carefully.… You know what is wanted. Unfortunately H.M.S. _Psyche_, the vessel conveying the party from Naples, was wrecked off Aci Reale, about a couple of miles to the north of the classic Cyclops rocks, and under the shadow of Etna, by striking a submerged and uncharted rock. The ship was badly holed, and rapidly began to fill, but fortunately the weather was fine and the sea calm, and all were got safely on shore. The cliffs were scarcely 200 yards away, but the landing was difficult, the jagged reefs of lava seeming to afford no sure footing. Eventually all the instrumental equipment was also landed, in a more or less damaged condition, but much of the personal baggage was lost. A letter written by one of the members of the expedition which found its way into a Manchester newspaper thus describes the event: