I asked Dr. Wright if you had taken to spectacles, and he seemed to think not. I had a pain about my eyes a few months ago, but I found spectacles made this rather worse and left them off again. However, I do catch myself holding a newspaper further off than I used to do.
Now don't let six months go by without writing again. If our little venture succeeds this time, we shall send again. [I.e. a package of various presents to the family.] Ever, my dearest Lizzie, your affectionate brother,
T.H. Huxley.
[He writes to his wife, who had taken the children to Margate:—]
September 22.
I am now busy over a paper for the Zoological Society; after that there is one for the Ethnological which was read last session though not written…Don't blaspheme about going into the bye-ways. They are both in the direct road of the book, only over the hills instead of going over the beaten path.
October 6.
I heard from Darwin last night jubilating over an article of mine which is published in the last number of the "Natural History Review," and which he is immensely pleased with…My lectures tire me, from want of practice, I suppose. I shall soon get into swing.
[The article in question was the "Criticisms of the 'Origin of Species'" of which he writes to Darwin:—]
Jermyn Street, October 5, 1864.