1884 ILL-HEALTH 85 



I fancy we may regard the award as practically settled, and 

 a very good award it will be. 



The address is beginning to loom in the distance. I have half 

 a mind to devote some part of it to a sketch of the recent novel- 

 ties in histology touching the nucleus question and molecular 

 physiology. 



My wife sent me your letter. By all means let us have a 

 confabulation as soon as I get back and settle what is to be done 

 with the " aged P." 



I am not sure that I shall be at home before the end of the 

 week. My lectures do not begin till next week, and the faithful 

 Howes can start the practical work without me, so that if I find 

 myself picking up any good in these parts, I shall probably linger 

 here or hereabouts. But a good deal will depend on the weather 

 — inside as well as outside. I am convinced that the prophet 

 Jeremiah (whose works I have been studying) must have been 

 a flatulent dyspeptic — there is so much agreement between his' 

 views and mine. — Ever yours, T. H. Huxley. 



But the net result of this holiday is summed up in a 

 note, of October 5, to Sir M. Foster : — 



I got better while I was in Cornwall and Wales, and, at 

 present, I don't think there is anything the matter with me ex- 

 cept a profound disinclination to work. I never before knew 

 the proper sense of the term " vis inertias." 



And writing in the same strain to Sir J. Evans, he 

 adds : — 



But I have a notion that if I do not take a long spell of 

 absolute rest before long I shall come to grief. However, get- 

 ting into harness again may prove a tonic — it often does, e.g. 

 in the case of cab-horses. 



Three days later he found himself ordered to leave Eng- 

 land immediately, under pain of a hopeless breakdown. 



4 Marlborough Place, Oct. 8, 1884. 



My dear Foster — We shall be very glad to see you on Fri- 

 day. I came to the conclusion that I had better put myself in 

 Clark's hands again, and he has been here this evening over- 

 hauling me for an hour. 



He says there is nothing wrong except a slight affection of 

 the liver and general nervous depression, but that if I go on the 



