Now this really is the end.

Ever yours very truly,

T.H.  Huxley.

4 Marlborough Place, London, N.W., March 7, 1887.

My dear Skelton [This letter is one of the twelve from T.H.H. already published by Sir John Skelton in his “Table Talk of Shirley” page 295 sq.],

Wretch that I am, I see that I have never had the grace to thank you for “Maitland of Lethington” which reached me I do not choose to remember how long ago, and which I read straight off with lively satisfaction.

There is a paragraph in your preface, which I meant to have charged you with having plagiarised from an article of mine, which had not appeared when I got your book.  In that Hermitage of yours, you are up to any Esotericobuddhistotelepathic dodge!

It is about the value of practical discipline to historians.  Half of them know nothing of life, and still less of government and the ways of men.

I am quite useless, but have vitality enough to kick and scratch a little when prodded.

I am at present engaged on a series of experiments on the thickness of skin of that wonderful little wind-bag —.  The way that second rate amateur poses as a man of science, having authority as a sort of papistical Scotch dominie, bred a minister, but stickit, really “rouses my corruption.”  What a good phrase that is.  I am cursed with a lot of it, and any fool can strike ile.

Ever yours very faithfully,

T.H.  Huxley.

Please remember me very kindly to Mrs. Skelton.

11 Eversfield Place, Hastings, November 18, 1887.

My dear Spencer,

I was very glad to get your letter this morning.  I heard all about you from Hirst before I left London, now nearly a month ago, and I promised myself that instead of bothering you with a letter I would run over from here and pay you a visit.

Unfortunately, my wife, who had been ill more or less ever since we left Arolla and came here on Clark’s advice, had an attack one night, which frightened me a good deal, though it luckily turned out to arise from easily remediable causes.

Under these circumstances you will understand how I have not made my proposed journey to Brighton.

I am rejoiced to hear of your move.  I believe in the skill of Dr. B. Potter and her understanding of the case more than I do in all the doctors and yourself put together.  Please offer my respectful homage to that eminent practitioner.

You see people won’t let me alone, and I have had to tell the Duke to “keep on board his own ship,” as the Quaker said, once more.  I seek peace, but do not ensue it.

Send any quantity of proofs, they are a good sign.  By the way, we move to 85 Marina, St. Leonards, to-morrow.

Wife sends her kind regards.

Ever yours very faithfully,

T.H.  Huxley.

85 Marina, St. Leonards, December 1887.