1887 LETTER TO MR. SPENCER 61 



man of science, having authority as a sort of papibtical 

 Scotch dominie, bred a minister, but stickit, really 

 " rouses my corruption." What a good phrase that is. 

 I am cursed with a lot of it, and any fool can strike ile. 

 — Ever yours very faithfully, T. H. Huxley.^ 



Please remember me very kindly to Mrs. Skelton. 



11 EVERSFIELD PlACE, HASTINGS, 



Nov. 18, 1887. 



My dear Spencer — 1 was very glad to get your letter 

 this morning. 1 heard all about you from Hirst before I 

 left London, now nearly a month ago, and I promised 

 myself that instead of bothering you with a letter I would 

 run over from here and pay you a visit. 



Unfortunately, my wife, who had been ill more or less 

 ever since we left Arolla and came here on Clark's advice, 

 had an attack one night, which frightened me a good 

 deal, though it luckily turned out to arise from easily 

 remediable causes. 



Under these circumstances you will understand how I 

 have not made my proposed journey to Brighton. 



I am rejoiced to hear of your move. I believe in the 

 skill of Dr. B. Potter and her understanding of the case 

 more than I do in all the doctors and yourself put 

 together. Please offer my respectful homage to that 

 eminent practitioner. 



You see people won't let me alone, and I have had to 

 tell the Duke to " keep on board his own ship," as the 

 Quaker said, once more. I seek peace, but do not ensue it. 



Send any quantity of proofs, they are a good sign. 

 By the way, we move to 85 Marina, St. Leonards, to- 

 morrow. 



Wife sends her kind regards. — Ever yours very 

 faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



^ This letter is one of the twelve from T. H. H. already published 

 by Sir John Skelton in his Table Talk of Shirley, p. 295 $q. 



