314 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY cHAP. XII 



The following letter to Professor Eomanes, whose 

 failing eyesight was a premonitory symptom of the 

 disease which proved fatal the next year, reads, so to 

 say, as a solemn prelude to the death of three old friends 

 this autumn — of Andrew Clark, his old comrade at 

 Haslar, and cheery physician for many years; of 

 Benjamin Jowett, Master of Balliol, whose acquaint- 

 ance he had first made in 1851 at the Stanleys' at 

 Harrow, and with whom he kept up an intimacy to 

 the end of his life, visiting Balliol once or twice every 

 year ; and, heaviest blow, of John Tyndall, the friend 

 and comrade whose genial warmth of spirit made him 

 almost claim a brother's place in early struggles and 

 later success, and whose sudden death was all the 

 more poignant for the cruel touch of tragedy in the 

 manner of it : — 



HoDESLEA, Sept. 28, 1893. 



Mt dear Romanes — We are very much grieved to 

 hear such a bad account of your liealth. Would that we 

 could achieve something more to the purpose than assuring 

 you and Mrs. Eomanes of our hearty sympathy with you 

 both in your troubles. I assure you, you are much in our 

 thoughts, which are sad enough with the news of Jowett's, 

 I fear, fatal attack. 



I am almost ashamed to be weU and tolerably active 

 when young and old friends are being thus prostrated. 



However, you have youth on your side, so do not give 

 up, and wearisome as doing notliing may be, persist in it 

 as the best of medicines. 



At my time of life one should be always ready to stand 

 at attention when the order to march comes ; but for the 

 rest I think it well to go on doing what I can, as if F, IVL 



