2 i6 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, xm 



abroad for the rest of September, and proposed to spend 

 some time at Menaggio, whence he hoped to effect a meet- 

 ing. He winds up with a jest at his recent unusual occu- 

 pation : — " I have had no end of righteousness accounted 

 to me for helping to entertain Bishops at Cambridge." 

 Hence the postscript in reply : — 



Hotel Kursaal, Maloja, Sept. 2, 1888. 



My dear Foster — A sharp fall of snow has settled our 

 minds, which have been long wavering about future plans, and 

 we leave this for Menaggio, Hotel Vittoria, on Thursday next, 

 6th* 



All the wiseacres tell us that there are fresher breezes (vento 

 di Lecco) at Menaggio than anywhere else in the Como country, 

 and at anyrate we are going to try whether we can exist there. 

 If it does not answer, we will leave a note for you there to say 

 where we are gone. It would be very jolly to forgather. 



I am sorry to leave this most comfortable of hotels, but I 

 do not think that cold would suit either of us. I am marvellously 

 well so long as I am taking sharp exercise, and I do my nine 

 or ten miles without fatigue. It is only when I am quiet that 

 I know that I have a heart. 



I do not feel at all sure how matters may be 4000 feet 

 lower, but what I have gained is all to the good in the way of 

 general health. In spite of all the bad weather we have had, 

 I have nothing but praise for this place— the air is splendid, 

 excellent walks for invalids, capital drainage, and the easiest 

 to reach of all places 6000 feet up. 



My wife sends her love, and thanks Mrs. Foster for her 

 letter, and looks forward to meeting her. — Ever yours, 



T. H. Huxley. 



Wash yourself clean of all that episcopal contamination or 

 you may infect me ! 



But adverse circumstances prevented the meeting. 



Hotel Kursaal, Maloja, Sept. 24, 1888. 



My dear Foster — As ill luck would have it, we went over 

 to Pont Resina to-day (for the first time), and have only just 

 got back (5.30). I have just telegraphed to you. 



All our plans have been upset by the Fohn wind, which gave 

 us four days' continuous downpour here — upset the roads, and 



* He did not ultimately leave till the 22nd. 



