What if I were to come and look you up in Naples, somewhere in February, as soon as my lectures are over?

The “one-plate system” might cure me of my incessant dyspeptic nausea.  A detestable grub—­larva of Ephestia elatella—­has been devouring Her Majesty’s stores of biscuits at Gibraltar.  I have had to look into his origin, history, and best way of circumventing him—­and maybe I shall visit Gibraltar and perhaps Malta.  In that case, you will see me turn up some of these days at the Palazzo Torlonia.

Herbert Spencer has written a friendly attack on “Administrative Nihilism,” which I will send you; in the same number of the “Fortnightly” there is an absurd epicene splutter on the same subject by Mill’s step-daughter, Miss Helen Taylor.  I intended to publish the paper separately, with a note about Spencer’s criticism, but I have had no energy nor faculty to do anything lately.

Tell Lankester, with best regards, that I believe the teaching of teachers in 1872 is arranged, and that I shall look for his help in due course.

The “Happy family” have had the measles since you saw them, but they are well again.

I write in Jermyn Street, so they cannot send messages; otherwise there would be a chorus from them and the wife of good wishes and kind remembrances.

Ever yours,

T.H.  Huxley.

[He left Southampton on January 11, in the “Malta.”  On the 16th, he notes in his diary,] “I was up just in time see the great portal of the Mediterranean well.  It was a lovely morning, and nothing could be grander than Ape Hill on one side and the Rock on the other, looking like great lions or sphinxes on each side of a gateway.”

[The morning after his arrival he breakfasted with Admiral Hornby, who sent him over to Tangier in the “Helicon,” giving the Bishop of Gibraltar a passage at the same time.  This led him to note down,] “How the naval men love Baxter and all his works.” [A letter from Dr. Hooker to Sir John Hay ensured him a most hospitable welcome, though continual rain spoiled his excursions.  On the 21st he returned to Gibraltar, leaving three days later in the “Nyanza” for Alexandria, which was reached on February 1.  At that “muddy hole” he landed in pouring rain, and it was not till he reached Cairo the following day that he at last got into his longed-for sunshine.

Seeing that three of his eight weeks had been spent in merely getting to sunshine, his wife and doctor conspired to apply for a third month of leave, which was immediately granted, so that he was able to accept the invitation of two friends to go with them up the Nile as far as Assouan in that most restful of conveyances, a dahabieh.