ABSTRACT
When parkes arrived in England in November 1879 his wife had already died and his own physical condition made a long period of home leave essential. According to his personal physician who reported to the Foreign Office in April 1880, Sir Harry was suffering from 'blood impoverishment, nervous exhaustion, mental and physical strain, a disturbed liver, a troublesome cough, and frequent attacks of gout'. Long years of hard work in a hot and humid climate had played havoc with his constitution while the personal tragedy surrounding his return had effectively neutralized the benefits of the sea voyage home. According to his doctor there was only one remedy for such an invalid, a complete break from official business, and vacations in 'high bracing localities'. Parkes took holidays in Torquay, Scotland, and Chertsey and relaxed as far as such an energetic and conscientious public servant ever could. In Parkes' case complete relaxation was only a relative term. For he spent the winters of 1879-1880 and of 1880-1881 in London assisting the Foreign Office in formulating their policies towards Japan.
