My life : a record of events and opinions - Wallace-online.org

226 MY LIFEDuring the ten years 1863-72, I saw a good dealof Sir Charles. If he had any special subject onwhich he wished for information, he would sometimeswalk across the park to St. Mark's Crescent for anhour's conversation ; at other times he would ask meto lunch with him, either to meet some interestingvisitor or for friendly talk. After my marriage mywife and I occasionally dined with him or went tohis evening receptions. These latter were veryinteresting, both because they were not overcrowdedand on account of the number of scientificand other men of eminence to be met there. Amongthese were Professor Tyndall, Sir Charles Wheatstone,Sir Charles Bunbury, Mr. Lecky, and a great manyThe Duke of Argyll was frequently there,others.and although we criticized each other's theories ratherstrongly, he was always very friendly, and we generallyhad some minutes' conversation whenever I met him.Miss Buckley (now Mrs. Fisher) was a very constantguest, and would point out to me the various celebritieswho happened to be present, and thus began a cordialfriendship which has continued unbroken, and hasbeen a mutual pleasure and advantage. I thereforelook back upon my friendship with Sir Charles Lyellwith unalloyed satisfaction as one of the most instructiveand enjoyable episodes in my life-experience.Soon after I returned home, in the summer of1862, Mr. Darwin invited me to come to Down for anight, where I had the great pleasure of seeing himin his quiet home, and in the midst of his family.year or two later I spent a week-end with him incompany with Bates, Jenner Weir, and a few othernaturalists ; but my most frequent interviews withhim were when he spent a few weeks with his brother.Dr. Erasmus Darwin, in Queen Anne Street, whichA