73 



LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, v 



a certain capital of life-stuff, and that expensive habits have 

 reduced mine. 

 And again : — 



I have been very shaky for the last few weeks, but I am 

 picking up again, and hope to come up smiling for the winter's 

 punishment. 



There was nothing to drink last night, so I had some tea ! 

 with my dinner — smoked a pipe or two — slept better than usual, 

 and woke without blue devils for the first time for a week ! ! ! 

 Query, is that the effect of tea or baccy ? I shall try them again. 

 We are fearfully and wonderfully made, especially in the stom- 

 ach — which is altogether past finding out. 



Still, his humour would flash out in the midst of his 

 troubles ; he writes in answer to a string of semi-official 

 enquiries from Sir J. Donnelly : — 



Highcroft House, Milford, Godalming. 

 Sir — In reply to your letter of the 9th Aug. (666), I have 

 the honour to state — ■ 



1. That I am here. 



2. That I have (a) had all my teeth out; (b) partially 

 sprained my right thumb; (c) am very hot; (d) can't 

 smoke with comfort; whence I may leave even official 

 intelligence to construct an answer to your second in- 

 quiry. 



3. Your third question is already answered under 2a. Not 

 writing might be accounted for by 26, but unfortunately 

 the sprain is not bad enough — and " laziness, sheer lazi- 

 ness " is the proper answer. 



I am prepared to take a solemn affidavit that I told you and 

 Macgregor where I was coming many times, and moreover that 

 I distinctly formed the intention of leaving my address in writ- 

 ing — according to those official instructions which I always 

 fulfil. 



If the intention was not carried o f ut, its blood be upon its 

 own head — I wash my hands of it, as Pilate did. 



4. As to the question whether I want my letters I can sin- 

 cerely declare that I don't — would in fact much rather not 

 see them. But I suppose for all that they had better be 

 sent. 



5. I hope Macgregor's question is not a hard one — spoon- 

 meat does not carry you beyond words of one syllable. 



