I have not been to South Kensington yet—­as I have a devil (botanical—­) and must satisfy him before doing anything else.  It’s the greatest sign of amendment that I have gone in for science afresh.  When I am ill (and consequently venomous), nothing satisfies me but gnawing at theology; it’s a sort of crib-biting.

Our love to Mrs. Donnelly.  I suppose G.H. [Gordon Huxley Donnelly, Sir John’s son.] is by this time a kind of Daniel Lambert physically and Solomon mentally—­my blessing to him.

Ever yours very faithfully,

T.H.  Huxley.

[As a sequel to the sad event mentioned in the former letter, the relations of the young man who had died so suddenly at Arolla wished to offer Huxley some gift in grateful recognition of the kindness he had shown to the poor fellow; but being unable to fix upon any suitable object, begged him to accept a considerable sum of money and expend it on any object he pleased as a memento.  To this he replied, November 21, 1886:—­]

I am very much obliged for the kind recognition of my unfortunately unavailing efforts to be of service to your brother-in-law which is contained in your letter.

But I and those who right willingly helped me did nothing more than our plain duty in such a case; and though I fully appreciate the motives which actuate Mrs. —­ and yourself and friends, and would gladly accept any trifle as a memento of my poor friend (I call him so, for we really struck up a great friendship in our twelve hours’ acquaintance), I could not with any comfort use the very handsome cheque you offer.

Let me propose a compromise.  As you will see by the enclosed paper, a colleague of mine has just died leaving widow and children in very poor circumstances.  Contribute something to the fund which is being raised for their benefit, and I shall consider it as the most agreeable present you could possibly make to me.

And if you wish me to have a personal memento of our friend, send me a pipe that belonged to him.  I am greatly devoted to tobacco, and will put it in a place of honour in my battery of pipes.

[The bracing effects of Arolla enabled him to stay two months in town before again retiring to Ilkley to be] “screwed up.” [He had on the stocks his Gentian Paper and the chapter for the Darwin Life, besides the chapter on the Progress of Science for the “Reign of Queen Victoria,” all of which he finished off this autumn; he was busy with Technical Education, and the Egyptian borings which were being carried out under the superintendence of the Royal Society.  Finally he was induced by a “diabolical plot” on the part of Mr. Spencer to read, and in consequence to answer, an article in the “Fortnightly” for November by Mr. Lilly on “Materialism and Morality.”  These are the chief points with which the following correspondence is concerned.]

4 Marlborough Place, September 16, 1886.

My dear Foster,