Life and Letters of Thomas Henry Huxley Volume II Part 48

Heaven be praised! I had brought down no copy of Physiology with me, so could not attend to your proof. Got it yesterday, so I am now at your mercy.

But I have gone over the proofs now, and send you a deuce of a lot of suggestions.

Just think over additions to smell and taste to bring these into harmony.

The Saints salute you. I am princ.i.p.ally occupied in studying the gospels.

Ever yours,

T.H. Huxley.

Highcroft House, Milford, G.o.dalming, August 26, 1884.

Dearly Beloved,

I have been going over the ear chapter this morning, and, as you will see, have suggested some additions. Those about the lamina spiralis are certainly necessary--illus. subst.i.tution of trihedral for triangular. [(On September 8, he writes:--] "I have been laughing over my 'trihedron.' It is a regular bull.") I want also very much to get into heads of students that in sensation it is all modes of motion up to and in sensorium, and that the generation of feeling is the specific reaction of a particle of the sensorium when stimulated, just as contraction, etc., is the specific reaction of a muscular fibre when stimulated by its nerve. The psychologists make the fools of themselves they do because they have never mastered this elementary fact. But I am not sure whether I have put it well, and I wish you would give your mind to it. As for me I have not had much mind to give lately--a fortnight's spoon-meat reduced me to inanity, and I am only just picking up again. However, I walked ten miles yesterday afternoon, so there is not much the matter.

I will see what I can do about the histology business. ("Most of our examinees" [he writes on September 5] "have not a notion of what histology means at present. I think it will be good for other folks to get it into their heads that it is not all sections and carmine.") I wanted to re-write it, but I am not sure yet whether I shall be able.

Between ourselves, I have pretty well made up my mind to clear out of everything next year, Royal Society included. I loathe the thought of wasting any more of my life in endless distractions--and so long as I live in London there is no escape for me. I have half a mind to live abroad for six months in the year.

Ever yours,

T.H. Huxley.

I enclose letter from Deutsch lunatic to go before Council and be answered by Foreign Secretary.

Highcroft House, Milford, G.o.dalming, August 29, 1884.

Dearly Beloved,

I enclose the proofs, having mustered up volition enough to go over them at once. I think the alterations will be great improvements. I see you interpret yourself about the movements of the larynx.

As to the histology, I shall have a shot at it, but if I do not send you ma.n.u.script in a week's time, go ahead. I am perplexed about the ill.u.s.trations, but I see nothing for it but to have new ones in all the cases which you have marked. Have you anybody in Cambridge who can draw the things from preparations?

You are like Trochu with your "plan," and I am anxious to learn it.

But have you reflected, 1st, that I am getting deafer and deafer, and that I cannot hear what is said at the council table and in the Society's rooms half the time people are speaking? and 2nd, that so long as I am President, so long must I be at the beck and call of everything that turns up in relation to the interests of science. So long as I am in the chair, I cannot be a faineant or refuse to do anything and everything incidental to the position.

My notion is to get away for six months, so as to break with the "world, the flesh, and the devil" of London, for all which I have conceived a perfect loathing. Six months is long enough for anybody to be forgotten twice over by everybody but personal friends.

I am contemplating a winter in Italy, but I shall keep on my house for Harry's sake and as a pied a terre in London, and in the summer come and look at you at Burlington House, as the old soap-boiler used to visit the factory. I shall feel like the man out of whom the legion of devils departed when he looked at the gambades of the two thousand pigs going at express speed for the waters of Tiberias.

By the way, did you ever read that preposterous and immoral story carefully? It is one of the best attested of the miracles...

When I have retired from the chair (which I must not scandalise) I shall write a lay sermon on the text. It will be impressive.

My wife sends her love, and says she has her eye on you. She is all for retirement.

Ever yours,

I am very sorry to hear of poor Mangles' death, but I suppose there was no other chance.

T.H.H.

[In September he hails with delight some intermission of the constant depression under which he has been labouring, and writes:--]

So long as I sit still and write or read I am all right, otherwise not good for much, which is odd, considering that I eat, drink, and sleep like a top. I suppose that everybody starts with a certain capital of life-stuff, and that expensive habits have reduced mine.

[And again:--]

I have been very shaky for the last few weeks, but I am picking up again, and hope to come up smiling for the winter's punishment.

There was nothing to drink last night, so I had some tea! with my dinner--smoked a pipe or two--slept better than usual, and woke without blue devils for the first time for a week!!! Query, is that the effect of tea or baccy? I shall try them again. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, especially in the stomach--which is altogether past finding out.

[Still, his humour would flash out in the midst of his troubles; he writes in answer to a string of semi-official inquiries from Sir J.

Donnelly:--]

Highcroft House, Milford, G.o.dalming.

Sir,

In reply to your letter of the 9th August (666), I have the honour to state:--

1. That I am here.

2. That I have (a) had all my teeth out; (b) partially sprained my right thumb; (c) am very hot; (d) can't smoke with comfort; whence I may leave even official intelligence to construct an answer to your second inquiry.

3. Your third question is already answered under 2a. Not writing might be accounted for by 2b, but unfortunately the sprain is not bad enough--and "laziness, sheer laziness" is the proper answer.

I am prepared to take a solemn affidavit that I told you and Macgregor where I was coming many times, and moreover that I distinctly formed the intention of leaving my address in writing--according to those official instructions which I always fulfil.

If the intention was not carried out, its blood be upon its own head--I wash my hands of it, as Pilate did.

4. As to the question whether I WANT my letters I can sincerely declare that I don't--would in fact much rather not see them. But I suppose for all that they had better be sent.

5. I hope Macgregor's question is not a hard one--spoon-meat does not carry you beyond words of one syllable.

On Friday I signalised my last dinner for the next three weeks by going to meet the G.O.M. I sat next him, and he was as lively as a bird.

Very sorry to hear about your house. You will have to set up a van with a bra.s.s knocker and anchor on our common.

Ever yours,

T.H. Huxley.

[By the beginning of September he had made up his mind that he ought before long to retire from active life. The first person to be told of his resolution was the head of the Science and Art Department, with whom he had worked so long at South Kensington.]

Highcroft House, Milford, G.o.dalming, September 3, 1884.