1888 LETTERS 211 



But I am mindful of your maxim — keep a tight hold over 

 your doctor. — Ever yours very faithfully, 



T. H. Huxley. 



PS. I. — Can't say I have sacrificed anything to penmanship, 

 and am not at all sure about lucidity ! 



PS. 2. — It is " Friday " — there is a dot over the i — reopened 

 my letter to crow ! 



The following letter to Mr. Spencer is in answer to a 

 note of condolence on his illness, in which the following 

 passage occurs : — 



I was grieved to hear of so serious an evil as that which 

 [Hirst] named. It is very depressing to find one's friends as 

 well as one's self passing more and more into invalid life. 



Well, we always have one consolation, such as it is, that we 

 have made our lives of some service in the world, and that, in 

 fact, we are suffering from doing too much for our fellows. 

 Such thoughts do not go far in the way of mitigation, but they 

 are better than nothing. 



4 Marlborough Place, May 8, 1888. 



My dear Spencer — I have been on the point of writing to 

 you, but put it off for lack of anything cheerful to say. 



After I had recovered from my pleurisy, I could not think 

 why my strength did not come back. It turns out that there is 

 some weakness and dilatation of the heart, but luckily no valvu- 

 lar mischief. I am condemned to the life of a prize pig — physical 

 and mental idleness, and corporeal stuffing with meat and drink, 

 and I am certainly improving under the regimen. 



I am told I have a fair chance of getting all right again. 

 But I take it as a pretty broad hint to be quiet for the rest of 

 my days. At present I have to be very quiet, and I spend most 

 of my time on my back. 



You and I, my dear friend, have had our innings, and carry 

 our bats out while our side is winning. One could not reason- 

 ably ask for more. And considering the infinite possibilities of 

 physical and moral suffering which beset us, I, for my part, am 

 well pleased that things are no worse. — Ever yours very faith- 

 fully, T. H. Huxley. 



4 Marlborough Place, N.W.,_/mk<? i, 1888. 

 My dear Knowles — I have been living the life of a prize 

 pig for the last six weeks — no exercise, much meat and drink, 



