376 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. XVI 



The fact is, the day after I saw you I had to put 

 myself in Clark's hands, and he ordered me to knock off 

 work and go and amuse myself for three or four months, 

 under penalties of an unpleasant kind. 



So I am off to Venice next Wednesday. It is the 

 only tolerably warm place accessible to any one whose 

 wife will not let him go within reach of cholera just at 

 present. 



If I am a good boy I am to come back all sound, as 

 there is nothing organic the matter ; but I have had 

 enough of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and shall 

 extricate myself from that Trinity as soon as may be. 

 Perhaps I may get within measurable distance of Berkeley 

 (English Men of Letters, ed. J.M.) before I die ! Ever 

 yours very faithfully, T. H. HUXLEY. 



ATHEN^IUM CLUB, 



October 18, 1884. 



MY DEAR FOSTER Best thanks for your letter and 

 route. I am giving you a frightful quantity of trouble ; 

 but as the old woman (Irish) said to my wife, when she 

 gave her a pair of my old trousers for her husband, " I 

 hope it may be made up to ye in a better world." 



She is clear, and I am clear, that there is no reason 

 on my part for not holding on if the Society really wishes 

 I should. But, of course, I must make it easy for the 

 Council to get rid of a faine'ant President, if they prefer 

 that course. 



I wrote to Evans an unofficial letter two days ago, 

 and have had a very kind, straightforward letter from 

 him. He is quite against my resignation. I shall see 

 him this afternoon here. I had to go to my office 

 (Fishery). 



Clark's course of physic is lightening my abdominal 

 troubles, but I am preposterously weak with a kind of 

 shabby broken-down indifference to everything. Ever 

 yours, T. H. H. 



