1893 THE ROMANES LECTURE 377 



I had next to no symptoms except debility, and though I am 

 much better I cannot quite shake that off. As usual with me it 

 affects my voice. I hope this will get right before this day month, 

 but I expect I shall have to nurse it. I do not want to interfere 

 with any of your hospitable plans, and I think if you will ensure 

 me quiet on the morning of the 18th (I understand the lecture 

 is in the afternoon) it will suffice. After the thing is over I am 

 ready for anything from pitch and toss onwards. 



Two more letters dated before the 18th of May touch on 

 the circumstances of the lecture. One is to his son-in-law, 

 John Collier ; the other to his old friend Tyndall. the last he 

 ever wrote him, and containing a cheery reference to the 

 advance of old age. 



Hodeslea, Eastbourne, May 9, 1893. 



My dear Jack — . . . M is better, and I am getting my 



voice back. But may St. Ernulphus' curse descend on influenza 

 microbes ! They tried to work their way out at my nose, and 

 converted me into a disreputable Captain Costigan-looking per- 

 son ten days ago. Now they are working at my lips. 



For the credit of the family I hope I shall be more reputable 

 by the 18th. 



I hope you will appreciate my dexterity. The lecture is a 

 regular egg-dance. That I should discourse on Ethics to the 

 University of Oxford and say all I want to say, without a word 

 anybody can quarrel with, is decidedly the most piquant occur- 

 rence in my career. . . . — Ever yours affectionately, 



Pater. 

 P.S. to be read first. 



Eastbourne, May 15, 1893. 



My dear Tyndall — There are not many apples (and those 

 mostly of the crab sort) left upon the old tree, but I send you 

 the product of the last shaking. Please keep it out of any hands 

 but your wife's and yours till Thursday, when I am to " stand 

 and deliver " it, if I have voice enough, which is doubtful. The 

 sequelae of influenza in my case have been mostly pimples' and 

 procrastination, the former largely on my nose, so that I have 

 been a spectacle. Besides these, loss of voice. The pimples are 

 mostly gone and the procrastination is not much above normal, 

 but what will happen when I try to fill the Sheldonian Theatre 

 is very doubtful. 



Who would have thought thirty-three years ago, when the 

 great " Sammy " fight came off, that the next time I should 



