1890 



MOVES FROM LONDON 163 



Only one absolute certainty is possible to man — 

 namely, tbat at any given moment the feeling which he 

 has exists. 



All other so-called certainties are beliefs of greater or 

 less intensity. 



Do not suppose that I am following Abernethy's 

 famous prescription, " take my pills," if I refer you to an 

 essay of mine on " Descartes," and a little book on Hume, 

 for the fuller discussion of these points. Hume's argu- 

 ment against miracles turns altogether on the fallacy that 

 induction can give certainty in the strict sense. 



We poor mortals have to be content with hope and 

 belief in all matters past and present — our sole certainty 

 is momentary. — I am yours faithfully, 



T. H. Huxley. 



Sir J. G. T. Sinclair, Bart. 



Except for a last visit to London to pack his 

 books, v^'hich proved a heavier undertaking than he 

 had reckoned upon, Huxley did not leave Eastbourne 

 this autumn, refusing Sir J. Donnelly's hospitable 

 invitation to stay with him in Surrey during the 

 move, of which he exclaims : — 



Thank Heaven that is my last move — except to a still 

 smaller residence of a subterranean character ! 



Geand Hotel, Eastbourne, 

 Sept. 19, 1890. 



My dear Donnelly — And my books — and watch-dog 

 business generally ? 



How is that to be transacted whether as in-patient or 

 out-patient at Firdale? Much hospitality hath made 

 thee mad. 



Seriously, it's not to be done nohow. What between 

 papers that don't come, and profligate bracket manu- 



