From T. H. Huxley 30 July 1871
My dear Darwin
I met Lyell in Waterloo Place today walking with Carrick Moore—and although what you said the other day had prepared me I was greatly shocked at his appearance and still more at his speech1 There is no doubt it is affected in the way you describe and the fact gives me very sad forebodings about him— The Fates send me a swift & speedy end whenever my time comes— I think there is nothing so lamentable as the spectacle of the wreck of a once clear & vigorous mind!
I am glad Frank2 enjoyed his visit to us— He is a great favorite here & I hope he will understand that he is free of the house— It was the greatest fun to see Jess & Mady3 on their dignity with him— No more kissing I can tell you.— Miss Mady was especially sublime.
Six out of our seven children have the whooping cough— Need I say therefore that the wife4 is enjoying herself?
With best regards to Mrs Darwin & your daughter—(and affectionate love to Polly)5
believe me | Ever yours faithfully | T. H. Huxley
26 Abbey Place | N.W
July 30. 1871
Footnotes
Summary
Shocked at Lyell’s appearance and speech.
Family news.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-7888
- From
- Thomas Henry Huxley
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- London, Abbey Place, 26
- Source of text
- DAR 166: 325
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 7888,” accessed on 18 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-7888.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 19