538 



LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, xxxm 



is a general prostration — very sadly obvious when he was with 

 us on Sunday — which, as I understand, rather renders him 

 specially obnoxious to a sudden and rapid development of the 

 lung disease than is itself to be feared. 



It was agreed that they should go at once to Gibraltar by the 

 P. and O., and report progress when he gets there. If strong 

 enough he is to go on a cruise round the Mediterranean, and if 

 he improves by this he is to go away for a year to Bogota (in 

 S. America) which appears to be a favourable climate for such 

 cases as his. 



If he gets worse he can but return. I have done my best to 

 impress upon him and his wife the necessity of extreme care, 

 and I hope they will be wise. 



It is very pleasant to find how good and cordial everybody is, 

 helpful in word and deed to the poor young people. I know it 

 will rejoice the cockles of your generous old heart to hear it. 



As for yourself, I trust you are mending and allowing your- 

 self to be taken care of by your household goddess. 



With our united love to her and yourself,— Ever yours 

 faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



I sent your cheque to Yeo. 



May, 1878. 



My dear Tyndall — You were very much wanted on Satur- 

 day, as your wife will have told you, but for all that I would not 

 have had you come on any account. You want a thorough long 

 rest and freedom from excitement of all sorts, and I am rejoiced 

 to hear that you are going out of the hurly-burly of London as 

 soon as possible ; and, not to be uncivil, I do hope you will stay 

 away as long as possible, and not be deluded into taking up any 

 exciting pursuit as soon as you feel lively again among your 

 mountains. 



Pray give up Dublin. If you don't, I declare I will try if 

 I have enough influence with the council to get you turned out 

 of your office of Lecturer, and superseded. 



Do seriously consider this, as you will be undoing the good 

 results of your summer's rest. I believe your heart is as sound 

 as your watch was when you went on your memorable slide,* 

 but if you go slithering down avalanches of work and worry 

 you can't always expect to pick up " the little creature " none 



* On the Piz Morteratsch : Hours of Exercise in the Alps, by J. 

 Tyndall, ch. xix. 



