I8SS DEATH OF MATTHEW ARNOLD 2 OQ 



and I am sorry to say that things will be worse instead of better. 

 Ever since this last pleuritic business I have been troubled with 

 prsecordial uneasiness. [After an account of his symptoms he 

 continues] So I am off (with my wife) to Switzerland at the 

 end of this month, and shall be away all the summer. We have 

 not seen the Engadine and Tyrol yet, so we shall probably make 

 a long circuit. It is a horrid nuisance to be exiled in this 

 fashion. I have hardly been at home one month in the last ten. 

 But it is of no use to growl. 



Under these circumstances, would you mind looking after 

 the x while I am away? There is nothing to do but to send the 

 notices on Saturday previous to the meeting. 



I am very grieved to hear about Hirst — though to say truth, 

 the way he has held out for so long has been a marvel to me. 

 The last news I had of Spencer was not satisfactory. 



Eheu ! the " Table Round " is breaking up. It's a great pity; 

 we were such pleasant fellows, weren't we ? — Ever yours, 



T. H. Huxley. 



Casalini, West Cliff, Bournemouth, April 18, 1888. 



My dear Foster — I am cheered by your liking of the notice 

 of Darwin. I read the " Life and Letters," and the " Origin," 

 Krause's " Life," and some other things over again in order to 

 do it. But I have not much go in me, and I was a scandalous 

 long time pottering over the writing. 



I have sent the proof back with a variety of interpolations. 

 I would have brought the " Spirula " notes down here to see 

 what I cpuld do, but I felt pretty sure that if I brought two 

 things I should not do one. Nobody could do anything with it 

 but myself. I will try what I can do when I go to town. How 

 much time is there before the wind-up of the Challenger ? 



We go up to town Monday next, and I am thinking of being 

 off the Monday following (Ap. 30). I have come to the same 

 conclusion as yourself, that Glion would be better than Grindel- 

 wald. I should like very much to see you. Just drop me a line 

 to say when you are likely to turn up. 



Poor Arnold's death * has been a great shock — rather for his 

 wife than himself — I mean on her account than his. I have 

 always thought sudden death to be the best of all for oneself, 

 but under such circumstances it is terrible for those who are 



* Matthew Arnold died suddenly of heart disease at Liverpool, 

 where he had gone to meet his daughter on her return from America. 

 50 



