My dear M^r Darwin,

I am very glad to hear from you if only to know that you have forgiven our noisy invasion on Sunday.¹ I am afraid that the noise prevented me from explaining myself quite clearly.

The trustees of the Aberdeen lectureship have not (I believe) put out any public notice. They are making enquiries privately; and one of them (Sir. John Clark) spoke to me.² He mentioned Graham³ as a man worth considering amongst others: but Graham is not, nor is any one else, a Candidate in the ordinary sense.— I do not know what the trustees mean to do—whether to advertize or simply to take the man whom they think best after a private enquiry.

I wrote to Clark as soon as I got home; and told him of your high opinion of Graham.⁴ & I hope to see him (ie. Clark) in a day or two and to talk a little more about it. He sent me a reply, however, from which I infer that they (the trustees) are still very undecided; that they have some hopes of getting some popular name—such as Max Müller⁵—to start the thing & that meanwhile they have been going over a good many names scientific as well as philosophical.

I dont know whether I explained that the lectureship is for 3 years & that Clark told me it would be worth about £600— I think, £600 in all not yearly. I will let you know if I hear anything more about it.

The tramps had a most agreeable expedition on Sunday & shall, I hope, be grateful to me; though I should be sorry to earn their gratitude by giving you too much trouble. I apologise also to M^rs Darwin. I am afraid that we must have marked her carpets with rather a large solution from the superficial strata of the district.

Believe me to be | Yours very truly | L. Stephen