My notion is I had better for the present avoid the chances of a wet, cold week in the high places.

M.B.A. [Marine Biological Association]...As to the employment of the Grant, I think it ought to be on something definite and limited.  The Pilchard question would be an excellent one to take up.

—­ seems to have a notion of employing it on some geological survey of Plymouth Sound, work that would take years and years to do properly, and nothing in the way of clear result to show.

I hope to be in London on my way abroad in less than ten days’ time, and will let you know.

Ever yours very faithfully,

T.H.  Huxley.

[And on the same day to Sir J. Donnelly:—­]

I expect...that I shall have a slow convalescence.  Lucky it is no worse!

Much fighting I am likely to do for the Unionist cause or any other!  But don’t take me for one of the enrages.  If anybody will show me a way by which the Irish may attain all they want without playing the devil with us, I am ready to give them their own talking-shop or anything else.

But that is as much writing as I can sit up and do all at once.

CHAPTER 3.2.

1887.

[On the last day of July he left England for Switzerland, and did not return till the end of September.  A second visit to Arolla worked a great change in him.  He renewed his Gentian studies also, with unflagging ardour.  The following letters give some idea of his doings and interests:—­]

Hotel du Mont Collon, Arolla, Switzerland, August 28, 1887.

My dear Foster,

I know you will be glad to hear that I consider myself completely set up again.  We went to the Maderaner Thal and stayed a week there.  But I got no good out of it.  It is charmingly pretty, but damp; and, moreover, the hotel was 50 per cent too full of people, mainly Deutschers, and we had to turn out into the open air after dinner because the salon and fumoir were full of beds.  So, in spite of all prudential considerations, I made up my mind to come here.  We travelled over the Furca, and had a capital journey to Evolena.  Thence I came on muleback (to my great disgust, but I could not walk a bit uphill) here.  I began to get better at once; and in spite of a heavy snowfall and arctic weather a week ago, I have done nothing but mend.  We have glorious weather now, and I can take almost as long walks as last year.

We have some Cambridge people here:  Dr. Peile of Christ’s and his family.  Also Nettleship of Oxford.  What is the myth about the Darwin tree in the “Pall Mall”? ["A tree planted yesterday in the centre of the circular grass plot in the first court of Christ’s College, in Darwin’s honour, was ‘spirited’ away at night.”—­“Pall Mall Gazette” August 23, 1887.] Dr. Peile believes it to be all a flam.

Forel has just been paying a visit to the Arolla glacier for the purpose of ascertaining the internal temperature.  He told me he much desired to have a copy of the Report of the Krakatoa Committee.  If it is published, will you have a copy sent to him?  He is Professor at Lausanne, and a very good man.