Thomas Henry Huxley an Ernst Haeckel, Eastbourne, 28. Dezember 1892
HODESLEA,
STAVELEY ROAD,
EASTBOURNE.
Dec. 28th 1892
My dear Haeckel
Your solstitical present with the kind greeting that isa inscribed in it, was very welcome – I send you in return a heavy book which contains all the wickedness of which I have been guilty (at least || in print) the last seven years. – I fell ill & had to give up active work & especially scientific investigation involving observation. But I must have something to do, so I determined to pay off some long standing debts I owed the clericals & their lay supporters. – || You see I could read & write though I could not sit over a dissection as stand about in a museum.
I have found my occupation extremely amusing and I believe it has been very useful. Here, as elsewhere, there is a recrudescence of clericalism, which must be dealt with mercilessly – knocked on the head however brainless that head may be. ||
I live here in a hermitage I have built for my wife, occasional children & grand children & myself. Also there is room for a moderate-sized friend. –
Will you not come and see us some holiday Time?
It would be very pleasant to talk over the days when the world lay before us.
My wife joins with me in best remembrances and good wishes for the new year. I am happy to say, that though liable to sudden attacks of illness, she is as vigorous as ever, when well.
Ever
Yours very faithfully
T H Huxley
a korr. aus: in