1893 THE ROMANES LECTURE 287 



Furthermore, my wife's health is, I am sorry to 

 say, extremely precarious. She was very ill a fortnight 

 ago, and to my very great regret, as well as hers, we are 

 obliged to give up our intended visit to Balliol to-morrow 

 She is quite unfit to travel, and I cannot leave her here 

 alone for three days. 



I think the state of affairs ought to be clear to the 

 Vice- Chancellor. If, in his judgment, it constitutes no 

 hindrance, and he does me the honour' to send the 

 invitation, I shall accept it 



To THE Same 



HoDESLEA, June 7, 1892. 



I am afraid that age hath not altogether cleared the 

 spirit of mischief out of my blood ; and there is something 

 so piquant in the notion of my acting as substitute for 

 Gladstone that I wall be ready if necessity arises. 



Of course I will keep absolutely clear of Theology. 

 But I have long had fermenting in my head, some notions 

 about the relations of Ethics and Evolution (or rather the 

 absence of such as are commonly supposed), which I think 

 will be interesting to such an audience as I may expect. 

 " Without prejudice," as the lawyers say, that is the sort 

 of topic that occurs to me. 



To THE Same 



HoDESLEA, Oct. 30, 1892, 



I had to go to London in the middle of last week about 

 the Gresham University busine^^s, and I trust I have put 

 a very long nail into the coffin of that scheme. For 

 which good service you wiU forgive my delay in rei)lying 

 to your letter. I read all about your show — why not 

 call it " George's Gorgeous," tout court f 



