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| The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 |
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Citation Information
;' 4
lxx
1889.
MEMOIR OF SIR HENRY YULE
•
in the early summer, and subsequently many pleasant days
were spent by him among the Surrey hills, as the guest of
his old friends Sir Joseph and Lady Hooker. Of their
constant and unwearied kindness, Ile always spoke with most
affectionate gratitude. That autumn he took a great dislike to the
English climate ; he hankered after sunshine, and formed many
plans, eager though indefinite, for wintering at Cintra, a place
whose perfect beauty had fascinated him in early youth. But
increasing weakness made a journey to Portugal, or even the
South of France, an alternative of which he also spoke, very in-
expedient, if not absolutely impracticable. Moreover, he would
certainly have missed abroad the many friends and multifarious
interests which still surrounded him at home. He continued to
take drives, and occasionally called on friends, up to the end of
November, and it was not until the middle of December that
increasing weakness obliged hind to take to his bed. He was
still, however, able to enjoy seeing his friends some to the very
end, and he had a constant stream of visitors, mostly old friends,
but also a few newer ones, who were scarcely less welcome. He
also kept up his correspondence to the last, three attached
brother R.E.'s, General Collinson, General Maclagan, and Major
W. Broadfoot, taking it in turn with the present writer to act as
his amanuensis.
On Friday, 27th December, Yule received a telegram from
Paris, announcing his nomination that day as Corresponding
Member of the Institute of France (Académie des Inscriptions),
one of the few distinctions of any kind of which it can still be
said that it has at no time lost any of its exalted dignity.
An honour of a different kind that came about the same time,
and was scarcely less prized by him, was a very beautiful letter of
farewell and benediction from Miss Florence Nightingale,7"
which he kept under his pillow and read many times. On the
28th, he dictated to the present writer his acknowledgment,
also by telegraph, of the great honour done him by the Institute.
The message was in the following words : " Reddo gratias,
►
75 Knowing his veneration for that noble lady, I had written to tell her of his condition, and to ask her to give him this last pleasure of a few words. The response was such as few but herself could write. This letter was not to be found after my father's death, and I can only conjecture that it must either have been given away by himself (which is most improbable), or was appropriated by some unauthorised outsider.
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