Various Affairs. 325 



ought to make that the one thing to be settled before all 

 other things as the means to more easily doing other things. 

 As to the cost, depend upon it you would find it pay. 



Will you excuse me if I also suggest that I think you are 

 apt to spread your energies over too many things. It strikes 

 me that in your state of health you will have to learn the 

 art of saying " No " in respect of many undertakings sug- 

 gested to you or which you suggest to yourself. Lecturing 

 you have, if I understand rightly, given up ; and I should 

 advise you to adhere rigorously to this course of abstinence. 

 You had better also abandon all idea of doing anything 

 with the Descriptive Sociology. Let it be issued by the 

 Appletons as other things have been and take its own 

 course. In fact it strikes me that your policy should be to 

 limit yourself exclusively to the International Series and 

 the magazine. 



I am just back from Scotland, much earlier than I in- 

 tended, having met with very bad weather, very little amuse- 

 ment, and unsatisfactory health ; for though during this 

 last season I was rejoicing at having been able to bear so 

 much work, I found when I got away that I had overstepped 

 the limits and underwent some collapse. I am still con- 

 siderably below par, but hope to get round presently. 



Ever yours, HERBERT SPENCER. 



The following refers to Youmans's important lec- 

 ture before the Liberal Club, reprinted below, pages 



502-551: 



38 QUEEN'S GARDENS, BAYSWATER, June 20, 1874. 

 MY DEAR YOUMANS : Two days ago I got your letter, 

 and yesterday the copy of The World. Of course I cannot 

 but rejoice at the complete success of your address and ex- 

 position. But while it is a source of satisfaction to me to 

 have such able defence and advocacy, I see abundant rea- 

 son to congratulate you upon the clearness and power of 



