My dear Morley,
I like the notion of undertaking your Hume book, and I don't see why I should not get it done this autumn. But you must not consider me pledged on that point, as I cannot quite command my time.
Tulloch sent me his book on Pascal. It was interesting as everything about Pascal must be, but Tulloch is not a model of style.
I have looked into Bruton's book, but I shall now get it and study it. Hume's correspondence with Rousseau seems to me typical of the man's sweet, easy-going nature. Do you mean to have a portrait of each of your men? I think it is a great comfort in a biography to get a notion of the subject in the flesh.
I have rather made it a rule not to part with my property in my books—but I daresay that can be arranged with Macmillan. Anyhow I shall be content to abide by the general arrangement if you have made one.
We have had a bad evening. Clifford has been here, and he is extremely ill—in fact I fear the worst for him. [See below.]
It is a thousand pities, for he has a fine nature all round, and time would have ripened him into something very considerable. We are all very fond of him.
Ever yours very faithfully,
T.H. Huxley.
July 6, 1878.