I remember that last year you found intellectual warfare good for your health, so I have no qualms of conscience in making the suggestion.

To this he replies on the 7th:—­]

Your stimulation of my combative instincts is downright wicked.  I will not look at the “Fortnightly” article lest I succumb to temptation.  At least not yet.  The truth is that these cursed irons of mine, that have always given me so much trouble, will put themselves in the fire, when I am not thinking about them.  There are three or four already.

[On November 21 Mr. Spencer sends him more proofs of his autobiography, dealing with his early life:—­

See what it is to be known as an omnivorous reader—­you get no mercy shown you.  A man who is ready for anything, from the fairy tale to a volume of metaphysics, is naturally one who will make nothing of a fragment of a friend’s autobiography!

To this he replies on the 25th:—­]

4 Marlborough Place, November 25, 1886.

My dear Spencer,

In spite of all prohibition I must write to you about two things.  First, as to the proof returned herewith—­I really have no criticisms to make (miracles, after all may not be incredible).  I have read your account of your boyhood with great interest, and I find nothing there which does not contribute to the understanding of the man.  No doubt about the truth of evolution in your own case.

Another point which has interested me immensely is the curious similarity to many recollections of my own boyish nature which I find, especially in the matter of demanding a reason for things and having no respect for authority.

But I was more docile, and could remember anything I had a mind to learn, whether it was rational or irrational, only in the latter case I hadn’t the mind.

But you were infinitely better off than I in the matter of education.  I had two years of a Pandemonium of a school (between 8 and 10) and after that neither help nor sympathy in any intellectual direction till I reached manhood.  Good heavens! if I had had a father and uncle who troubled themselves about my education as yours did about your training, I might say as Bethell said of his possibilities had he come under Jowett, “There is no knowing to what eminence I might not have attained.”  Your account of them gives me the impression that they were remarkable persons.  Men of that force of character, if they had been less wise and self-restrained, would have played the deuce with the abnormal chicken hatched among them.

The second matter is that your diabolical plot against Lilly has succeeded—­vide the next number of the Fortnightly. ["Science and Morals” “Collected Essays” 9 117.] I was fool enough to read his article, and the rest followed.  But I do not think I should have troubled myself if the opportunity had not been good for clearing off a lot of old scores.

The bad weather for the last ten days has shown me that I want screwing up, and I am off to Ilkley on Saturday for a week or two.  Ilkley Wells House will be my address.  I should like to know that you are picking up again.