1888 AT MALOJA 21 5 



" secret " alluded to in the following letter is the destined 

 award to him of the Copley medal : — 



Hotel Kursaal, Maloja, 

 Ober Engadine, Aug. 17, 1888. 



My dear Foster — I know you will be glad to hear that, at 

 last, I can report favourably of my progress. The first six weeks 

 of our stay here the weather was cold, foggy, wet, and windy 

 — in short, everything that it should not be. If the hotel had not 

 been as it is, about the most comfortable in Switzerland, I do 

 not know what I should have done. As it was, I got a very 

 bad attack of " liver," which laid me up for ten days or so. A 

 Brighton doctor — Bluett by name, and well up to his work — 

 kindly looked after me. 



With the early days of August the weather changed for the 

 better, and for the last fortnight we have had perfect summer — 

 day after day. I soon picked up my walking power, and one day 

 got up to Lake Longhin, about 2000 feet up. That was by way 

 of an experiment, and I was none the worse for it, but usually 

 my walks are of a more modest description. To-day we are all 

 clouds and rain, and my courage is down to zero, with precordial 

 discomfort. It seems to me that my heart is quite strong enough 

 to do all that can reasonably be required of it — if all the rest 

 of the machinery is in good order, and the outside conditions 

 are favourable. But the poor old pump cannot contend with 

 grit or want of oil anywhere. 



I mean to stay here as long as I can; they say it is often 

 very fine up to the middle of September. Then we shall migrate 

 lower, probably on the Italian side, and get home most likely in 

 October. But I really* am very much puzzled to know what 

 to do. 



My wife has not been very well lately, and Ethel has con- 

 trived to sprain her ankle at lawn-tennis. Collier has had to go 

 to Naples, but we expect him back in a few days. 



With our united love to Mrs. Foster and yourself — Ever 

 yours, T. H. Huxley. 



I was very pleased to hear of a secret my wife communicated 

 to me. So long as I was of any use, I did not care much about 

 having the fact recognised, but now that I am used up I like the 

 feather in my cap. " Fuimus." Let us have some news of you. 



Sir M. Foster, who was kept in England by the British 

 Association till September 10, wrote that he was going 



