I have been bothered with praecordial uneasiness and intermittent pulse ever since I have been here, and at last I got tired of it and went home the day before yesterday to get carefully overhauled. Hames tells me there is weakness and some enlargement of the left ventricle, which is pretty much what I expected. Luckily the valves are all right. I am to go and devote myself to coaxing the left ventricle wall to thicken pro rata--among the mountains, and to have nothing to do with any public functions or other exciting bedevilments. So the International Geological Congress will not have the pleasure of seeing its Honorary President in September. I am disgusted at having to break an engagement, but I cannot deny that Hames is right. At present the mere notion of the thing puts me in a funk. I wish I could get out of the chair of the M.B.A. Also...I know that you and Evans and Dyer will do your best, but you are all eaten up with other occupations. Just turn it over in your mind--there's a dear good fellow--just as if you hadn't any other occupations. With which eminently reasonable and unselfish request believe me, Ever yours, T.H. Huxley. Bournemouth, April 10, 1888. My dear Foster, I send by this post the last--I hope for your sake and for that of the recording angel--of --. [The "Heathen Deutscheree". A paper of his, contributed to the Royal Society, had been under revision.] I agree to all Brady's suggestions. With all our tinkering I feel inclined to wind up the affair after the manner of Mr. Shandy's summing up of the discussion about Tristram's breeches--"And when he has got 'em he'll look a beast in 'em." Ever yours, T.H. Huxley. [April 12. To the same:--] I am quite willing to remain at the M.B.A. till the opening. If Evans will be President I shall be happy. -- is a very good man, but you must not expect too much of the "wild-cat" element, which is so useful in the world, in him. I am disgusted with myself for letting everything go by the run, but there is no help for it. The least thing bowls me over just now. Casalini, West Cliff, Bournemouth, April 12, 1888. My dear Hooker, I plead not guilty. [In the matter of sending out no notices for a meeting of the x Club.] It was agreed at the last meeting that there should be none in April--I suppose by reason of Easter, so I sent no notice. This is what Frankland told me in his letter of the 2nd. However, I see you were present, so I can't make it out.