1891 



LETTERS 197 



value is likely to increase. I suppose at present it is 

 worth £2000, but that is only a guess. 



Apropos of naval portrait gallery, can you tell me if 

 there is a portrait of old John Richardson anywhere 

 extant ? I always look upon him as the founder of my 

 fortunes, and I want to hang him up (just over your head) 

 on my chimney breast. Voici ! [sketch showing the 

 position of the pictures above the fireplace] : — 



By your fruits ye shall judge them ! My cold was 

 influenza, I have been in the most preposterously weak 

 state ever since ; and at last my wife lost patience and 

 called in the doctor, who is screwing me up with nux 

 vomica. 



Sound wind and limb otherwise. — Ever yours affection- 

 ately, T. H. HUXLET, 



And again on July 3 : — 



I have just been offered £2800 for Anthony Rich's 

 place and have accepted it. It is probably worth £3000, 

 but if I were to have it on my hands and sell by auction 

 I should get no more out of the transaction. 



I am greatly inclined to put some of the money into 

 a jjiece of land— a Naboth's vineyard — in front of my 

 house and turn horticulturist. I find nailing up creepers 

 a delightful occupation. 



In the same letter he describes two meetings with 

 old friends : — 



Last Friday I ran down to Hindhead to see Tyndall. 

 He was very much better than I hoped to find him, after 

 such a long and serious illness, quite bright and 

 " Tyndalloid " and not aged as I feared he would be. . . . 

 The local doctor happened to be there during my visit 

 and spoke very confidently of his speedy recovery. The 

 leg is all right again, and he even talks of Switzer- 

 land, but I begged Mrs. Tyndall to persuade him to keep 



