88 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY cHAr. iv 



writer of the letter had Crawford's deposition before 

 him, and made what he considered improvements here 

 and there. 



You will say this letter is like FalstafFs reckoning, 

 with but a pennyworth of thanks to this monstrous 

 quantity of pecking. 



But the gratitude is solid and the criticism mere two 

 dimension stuff. It is a charming book. 



With kind remembrances to Mrs. Skelton — Ever 

 yours very faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



10 SOTTTHCLIFF TeRRACE, EaSTBOTJRNE, 



Nov. 9, 1888. 



My dear Foster — We came here on Tuesday, on 

 which day, by ill luck, the east wind also started, and has 

 been blowing half a gale ever since. We are in the last 

 house but one to the west, and as high up as we dare go 

 — looking out on the sea. The first day we had to hold 

 on to our chairs to prevent being blown away in the 

 sitting-room, but we have hired a screen and can now 

 croon over the fire without danger. 



A priori, the conditions cannot be said to have been 

 promising for two people, one of whom is liable to 

 bronchitis and rheumatism and the other to pleurisy, but, 

 as I am so fond of rubbing into Herbert Spencer, a priori 

 reasonings are mostly bosli, and we are thriving. 



With three coats on I find the air on Beachy Head 

 eminently refreshing, and there is so much light in the 

 southern quarter just now, that we confidently hope to 

 see the sun once more in the course of a few days. 



As I told you in my official letter, I am going up for 

 the 30th. But I am in a quandary about the dinner, 

 partly by reason of the inevitable speech, and partly the 

 long sitting. I should very much like to attend, and I 

 think I could go through with it. On the other hand, 

 my wife declares it would be very imprudent, and I am 



