1885 LETTERS FROM ROME 395 



As to the Preface. If I am to write it, please send 

 me the old Preface. I think the book was published in 

 1864, or was it 1866? 1 and it ought to be come of age 

 or nearly so. 



You might send me the histological chapter, not that 

 I am going to alter anything, but I should like to see 

 how it looks. I will knock the Preface off at once, as 

 soon as I hear from you. 



The fact is, I have been much better in the course of 

 the last few days. The weather has been very sunshiny 

 but cool and bracing, and I have taken to quinine. 

 Tried Clark's strychnine, but it did not answer so well 



I am in hopes that I have taken a turn for the better, 

 and that there may yet be the making of something 

 better than a growling hypochondrfacal old invalid about 

 me. But I am most sincerely glad that I am not obliged 

 to be back 10 days hence there is not much capital 

 accumulated yet. 



I find that the Italians have been doing an immense 

 deal in prehistoric archaeology of late years, and far more 

 valuable work than I imagined. But it is very difficult 

 to get at, and as Loescher's head man told me the other 

 day when I asked for an Italian book published in Eome, 

 " Well, you see it is so difficult to get Eoman books in 

 Rome." 



I am ashamed to be here two months without paying 

 my respects to the Lincei, and I am going to-day. The 

 unaccountable creatures meet at 1 o'clock lunch time ! 



Best love from my wife and self to Mrs. Foster and 

 yourself. Ever yours, T. H. HUXLEY. 



ROME, Feb. 14, 1885. 



MY DEAR FOSTER. Voild, the preface a work of 

 great labour ! and which you may polish and alter as you 



1 In 1866. 



