RENEWED ILL-HEALTH 



207 



This was not immediately dangerous, though he looked a 

 complete wreck. His letters from April onwards show how 

 he was forced to give up almost every form of occupation, 

 and even to postpone his visit to Switzerland, until he had 

 been patched up enough to bear the journey. 



Casalini, West Cuff, Bournemouth, March 9, 1888. 



My dear Spencer — I am very sorry to hear from Hooker 

 that you have been unwell again. You see if young men from 

 the country will go plunging into the dissipations of the me- 

 tropolis nemesis follows. 



Until two days ago, the weathercocks never overstepped 

 N. on the one side and E. on the other ever since you left. Then 

 they went west with sunshine and most enjoyable softness — but 

 next S. with a gale and rain — all ablowin' and agrowin' at this 

 present. 



I have nothing to complain of so long as I do nothing; but 

 although my hair has grown with its usual rapidity I differ from 

 Samson in the absence of a concurrent return of strength. Per- 

 haps that is because a male hairdresser, and no Delilah, cut it 

 last ! But I waste Biblical allusions upon you. 



My wife and Nettie, who is on a visit, join with me in best 

 wishes. 



Please let me have a line to say how you are — Gladstonianly 

 on a post-card. — Ever yours very faithfully, 



T. H. Huxley. 



Bournemouth, April 7, 1888. 



My dear Foster — " Let thy servant's face be white before 

 thee." The obituary of Darwin went to Rix * yesterday ! It is 

 not for lack of painstaking if it is not worth much, but I have 

 been in a bad vein for work of any kind, and I thought I should 

 never get even this simple matter ended. 



I have been bothered with precordial uneasiness and inter- 

 mittent pulse ever since I have been here, and at last I got tired 

 of it and went home the day before yesterday to get carefully 

 overhauled. Hames tells me there is weakness and some en- 

 largement of the left ventricle, which is pretty much what I 

 expected. Luckily the valves are all right. 



I am to go and devote myself to coaxing the left v. wall to 

 thicken pro rata — among the mountains, and to have nothing to 

 do with any public functions or other exciting bedevilments. 



* Assistant Secretary of the Royal Society. 



