ill forgive me
for troubling you under these circumstances.

P.S.--I finished reading a few days ago the several physiological and
medical papers which you were so kind as to send me. (769/3. Some of
Lauder Brunton's publications.) I was much interested by several of
them, especially by that on night-sweating, and almost more by others on
digestion. I have seldom been made to realise more vividly the wondrous
complexity of our whole system. How any one of us keeps alive for a day
is a marvel!

LETTER 770. T. LAUDER BRUNTON TO CHARLES DARWIN. 50, Welbeck Street,
London, November 21st, 1881.

I thank you most sincerely for your kind letter and your offer of
assistance to Dr. Ferrier. There is at present no subscription list, as
the British Medical Association have taken up the case, and ought to
pay the expenses. Should these make such a call upon the funds of the
Association as to interfere with its other objects, the whole or part
of the expenses will be paid by those who have subscribed to a guarantee
fund. To this fund there are already a number of subscribers, whose
names are taken by Professor Gerald Yeo, one of the secretaries of the
Physiological Society. They have not subscribed a definite sum, but have
simply fixed a maximum which they will subscribe, if necessary, on the
understanding that only so much as is required shall be asked from each
subscriber in proportion to his subscription. It is proposed to send
by-and-by a list of the most prominent members of this guarantee fund
to the "Times" and other papers, and not only every scientific man, but
every member of the medical profession, will rejoice to see your name
in the list. Dr. Ferrier has been quite worn out by the worry of this
prosecution, or, as it might well be called, persecution, and has gone
down to Shanklin for a couple of days. He returns this afternoon, and I
have sent on your letter to await his arrival, knowing as I do that it
will be to him like cold water to a thirsty soul.

LETTER 771. TO T. LAUDER BRUNTON. Down, November 22nd, 1881.

Many thanks for your very kind and interesting letter...

I write now to beg a favour. I do not in the least know what others
have guaranteed in relation to Dr. Ferrier. (771/1. In a letter dated
November 27th, 1881, Sir Lauder Brunton wrote in reply to Mr. Darwin's
inquiry as to the amount of the subscriptions: "When I ascertain
what they intend to give under the new conditions--viz., that the
sub