My dear Mr. Motley,—. . .  The examination I have just made appears to indicate that the main conditions of your health are more stable than they were some months ago, and would therefore be so far in favor of your going to America in the summer, as we talked of.  The ground of my doubt has lain in the possibility of such a trip further disordering the circulation.  Of this, I hope, there is now less risk.

     On the 4th of June, 1875, I received the following letter:—­

                              CALVERLY Park hotel, Tunbridge Wells,
                                                  June 4, 1875.

My dear sir William,—­I have been absent from town for a long time, but am to be there on the 9th and 10th.  Could I make an appointment with you for either of those days?  I am anxious to have a full consultation with you before leaving for America.  Our departure is fixed for the 19th of this month.  I have not been worse than usual of late.  I think myself, on the contrary, rather stronger, and it is almost impossible for me not to make my visit to America this summer, unless you should absolutely prohibit it.  If neither of those days should suit you, could you kindly suggest another day?  I hope, however, you can spare me half an hour on one of those days, as I like to get as much of this bracing air as I can.  Will you kindly name the hour when I may call on you, and address me at this hotel.  Excuse this slovenly note in pencil, but it fatigues my head and arm much more to sit at a writing-table with pen and ink.

                                   Always most sincerely yours,
                                             My dear Sir William,
                                                       J. L. Motley.

     On Mr. Motley’s return from America I saw him, and found him, I
     thought, rather better in general health than when he left England.

In December, 1875, Mr. Motley consulted me for trouble of vision in reading or walking, from sensations like those produced by flakes of falling snow coming between him and the objects he was looking at.  Mr. Bowman, one of our most excellent oculists, was then consulted.  Mr. Bowman wrote to me as follows:  “Such symptoms as exist point rather to disturbed retinal function than to any brain-mischief.  It is, however, quite likely that what you fear for the brain may have had its counterpart in the nerve-structures of the eye, and as he is short-sighted, this tendency may be further intensified.”

     Mr. Bowman suggested no more than such an arrangement of glasses as
     might put the eyes, when in use, under better optic conditions.