412 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



To T. H. Huxley. 



Worthing, Sept. 9th, 1881. 

 We have been paying Mr. Rich* a little visit, and he has often 

 spoken of you, and I think he enjoyed much your and Mrs. Huxley's 

 visit here. But my object in writing now is to tell you something, 

 which I am very doubtful whether it is worth while for you to hear, 

 because it is uncertain. My brother Erasmus has left me half his for- 

 tune, which is very considerable. Therefore, I thought myself bound 

 to tell Mr. Eich of this, stating the large amount, as far as the execu- 

 tors as yet know it roughly. I then added that my wife and self 

 thought that, under these new circumstances, he was most fully justi- 

 fied in altering his will and leaving his property in some other way. 

 1 begged him to take a week to consider what I had told him, and then 

 by letter to inform me of the result. But he would not, however, 

 hardly allow me to finish what I had to say, and expressed a firm deter- 

 mination not to alter his will, adding that I had five sons to provide 

 for. After a short pause he implied (but unfortunately he here be- 

 came very confused and forgot a word, which on subsequent reflection 

 I think was probably 'reversionary') he implied that there was a 

 chance, whether good or bad I know not, of his becoming possessed of 

 some other property, and he finished by saying distinctly, 'I will be- 

 queath this to Huxley.' What the amount may be (I fear not large), 

 and what the chance may be, God only knows; and one can not cross- 

 examine a man about his will. He did not bind me to secrecy, so I 

 think I am justified in telling you what passed, but whether it is wise 

 on my part to send so vague a story, I am not at all sure; but as a 

 general rule it is best to tell everything. As I know that you hate 

 writing letters, do not trouble yourself to answer this. 



P. S. On further reflection I should like to hear that you receive- 

 this note safely. I have used up all my black-edged paper. 



To Anthony Rich. 



Down, Feb. 4th, 1882. 



It is always a pleasure to me to receive a letter from you. I am 

 very sorry to hear that you have been more troubled than usual with 

 your old complaint. Any one who looked at you would think that you 



* Anthony Rich ( 1804?-1891 ) . Educated at Caius College, Cambridge, of 

 which he was afterwards an Honorary Fellow. Author of Illustrated Com- 

 panion to the Latin Dictionary and Greek Lexicon, 1849, said to be a useful book 

 on classical antiquities. Mr. Darwin made his acquaintance in a curious way 

 namely, by Mr. Rich writing to inform him that he intended to leave him his 

 fortune, in token of his admiration for his work. Mr. Rich was the survivor, 

 but left his property to Mr. Darwin's children, with the exception of his house 

 at Worthing, bequeathed to Mr. Huxley. 



