1874 LETTERS TO TYNDALL 129 



have horrid misgivings of your kicking over the 

 traces. 



The " x " comes off on Saturday next, so let your ears 

 burn, for we shall be talking about you. I have just 

 begun my lectures to Schoolmasters, and I wish they 

 were over, though I am very well on the whole. 



Griffith 1 wrote to ask for the title of my lecture at 

 Belfast, and I had to tell him I did not know yet. I 

 shall not begin to think of it till the middle of July 

 when these lectures are over. 



The wife would send her love, but she has gone to 

 Kew to one of Hooker's receptions, taking Miss 'Jewsbury, 2 

 who is staying with us. I was to have gone to the 

 College of Physicians' dinner to-night, but I was so weary 

 when I got home that I made up my mind to send an 

 excuse. And then came the thought that I had not 

 written to you. Ever yours sincerely, 



T. H. HUXLEY. 



The next letter is in reply to Tyndall, who had 

 written as follows from Switzerland on July 15 : 



I confess to you that I am far more anxious about 

 your condition than about my own ; for I fear that after 

 your London labour the labour of this lecture will press 

 heavily upon you. I wish to Heaven it could be trans- 

 ferred to other shoulders. 



I wish I could get rid of the uncomfortable idea that 

 I have drawn upon you at a time when your friend 

 and brother ought to be anxious to spare you every 

 labour. ... 



P.S. Have just seen the Swiss Times; am intensely 

 disgusted to find that while I was brooding over the 

 calamities possibly consequent on your lending me a 



1 For many years secretary to the British Association. 



2 Miss Geraldine Jewsbury (1812-80) the novelist, and friend 

 of the Carlyles. After 1866 she lived at Sevenoaks. 



VOL. II K 



