58 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. II 



26 ABBEY PLACE, July 30, 1871. 



MY DEAR DARWIN I met Lyell in Waterloo Place 

 to-day walking with Carrick Moore and although what 

 you said the other day had prepared me, I was greatly 

 shocked at his appearance, and still more at his speech. 

 There is no doubt it is affected in the way you describe, 

 and the fact gives me very sad forebodings about him. 

 The Fates send me a swift and speedy end whenever my 

 time comes. I think there is nothing so lamentable as 

 the spectacle of the wreck of a once clear and vigorous 

 mind ! 



I am glad Frank enjoyed his visit to us. He is a 

 great favourite here, and I hope he will understand that 

 he is free of the house. It was the greatest fun to see 

 Jess and Mady : on their dignity with him. No more 

 kissing, I can tell you. Miss Mady was especially sublime. 



Six out of our seven children have the whooping-cough. 

 Need I say therefore that the wife is enjoying herself? 



With best regards to Mrs. Darwin and your daughter 

 (and affectionate love to Polly) believe me Ever yours 

 faithfully, T. H. HUXLEY. 



The purchase of the microscope, already referred 

 to, was the subject of another letter to Dr. Dohrn, of 

 which only the concluding paragraph about the School 

 Board, is of general interest. Unfortunately the 

 English microscope did not turn out a success, as 

 compared to the work of the Jena opticians : this is 

 the " optical Sadowa " of the second letter. 



I fancy from what you wrote to my wife that there 

 has been some report of my doings about the School 

 Board in Germany. So I send you the number of the 



1 Aged 13 and 12 respectively. 



