1872 AT GIBRALTAR 69 



What if I were to come and look you up in Naples, 

 somewhere in February, as soon as my lectures are over ? 



The " one-plate system " might cure me of my incessant 

 dyspeptic nausea. A detestable grub larva of Ephestia 

 elatella has been devouring Her Majesty's stores of 

 biscuits at Gibraltar. I have had to look into his origin, 

 history, and best way of circumventing him and maybe 

 I shall visit Gibraltar and perhaps Malta, In that case, 

 you will see me turn up some of these days at the Palazzo 

 Torlonia. 



Herbert Spencer has written a friendly attack on 

 " Administrative Nihilism," which I will send you ; in 

 the same number of the Fortnightly there is an absurd 

 epicene splutter on the same subject by Mill's step- 

 daughter, Miss Helen Taylor. I intended to publish the 

 paper separately, with a note about Spencer's criticism, 

 but I have had no energy nor faculty to do anything 

 lately. 



Tell Lankester, with best regards, that I believe the 

 teaching of teachers in 1872 is arranged, and that I shall 

 look for his help in due course. 



The " Happy family " have had the measles since you 

 saw them, but they are well again. 



I write in Jermyn Street, so they cannot send 

 messages ; otherwise there would be a chorus from them 

 and the wife of good wishes and kind remembrances. 

 Ever yours, T. H. HUXLEY. 



He left Southampton on January 11, in the Malta. 

 On the 16th, he notes in his diary, "I was up just in 

 time to see the great portal of the Mediterranean 

 well It was a lovely morning, and nothing could be 

 grander than Ape Hill on one side and the Rock on 

 the other, looking like great lions or sphinxes on 

 each side of a gateway." 



The morning after his arrival he breakfasted with 



