40 LIFE OF PllOFESSOR HUXLEY cHAP. 11 



especially the great central plain, in his frequent 

 visits to Ireland, convinced him that the balance 

 between subsistence and population would speedily 

 create a new agrarian question, whatever political 

 schemes were introduced. This was one of "the 

 only political questions which interested him." 



Towards the end of October he left London for 

 Hastings, partly for his own, but still more for his 

 wife's sake, as she was far from well. He was still 

 busy with one or two Royal Society Committees, and 

 came up to town occasionally to attend their meetings, 

 especially those dealing with the borings in the Delta, 

 and with Antarctic exploration. Thus he writes : — 



11 EvEKSFiELu Place, Hastings, 

 Oct. 31, 1887. 



My dear Foster — We have been here for the last 

 week, and are likely to be here for some time, as my 

 wife, though mending, is getting on but slowly, and she 

 will be as well out of London through beastly November. 

 I shall be up on Thursday and return on Friday, but I 

 do not want to be away longer, as it is lonesome for the 

 wife. 



I quite agree to what you propose on Committee, so 

 I need not be there. Very glad to hear that the Council 

 " very much applauded what we had done," and hope we 

 shall get the £500. 



I don't believe a word in increasing whale fishery, but 

 scientifically, the Antarctic expedition would, or might be 

 very interesting, and if the colonies will do their part, 1 

 think we ought to do ours. 



You won't want me at that Committee either. Hope 

 to see you on Thursday. — Ever yours, T. H. Huxley. 



Hideous pen ! 



