LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP, xxi 



greatly shaken by the event: " I was very much used up," 

 he writes to Sir M. Foster on his return home two days 

 later, ' to my shame be it said, far more than my wife ; ' 

 and on December 30 to Sir John Donnelly : 



Your kind letter deserved better than to have been left all 

 this time without response, but the fact is, I came to grief the 

 day after Christmas Day (no, we did not indulge in too much 

 champagne). Lost my voice, and collapsed generally, without 

 any particular reason, so I went to bed and stayed there as long 

 as I could stand it, and now I am picking up again. The fact 

 is, I suppose I had been running up a little account over poor 

 old Tyndall. One does not stand that sort of wear and tear so 

 well as one gets ancient. 



On the same day he writes to Sir J. D. Hooker : 



HODESLEA, EASTBOURNE, Dec. 30, 1893. 



MY DEAR HOOKER You gave the geographers some uncom- 

 monly sane advice. I observe that the words about the " stu- 

 pendous ice-clad mountains "' you saw were hardly out of your 



mouth when coolly asserts that the Antarctic continent is 



a table-land ! " comparatively level country." It really is wrong 

 that men should be allowed to go about loose who fill you with 

 such a strong desire to kick them as that little man does. 



I send herewith a spare copy of Nineteenth with my paper 

 about Tyndall. It is not exactly what I could wish, as I was 

 hurried over it, and knocked up into the bargain, but I have tried 

 to give a fair view of him. Tell me what you think of it. 



I have been having a day or two on the sick list. Nothing 

 discernible the matter, only flopped, as I did in the spring. How- 

 ever, I am picking up again. The fact is, I have never any blood 

 pressure to spare, and a small thing humbugs the pump. 



However, I have some kicks left in me, vide the preface to 

 the fourth vol. of Essays; do. No. V. when that appears in Feb- 

 ruary. 



Now, my dear old friend, take care of yourself in the coming 

 year '94. I'll stand by you as long as the fates will let me, and 

 you must be equally " Johnnie." With our love to Lady Hooker 

 and yourself Ever yours affectionately, 



T. H. HUXLEY. 



