22 Selections from Huxley 



The only objections that have occurred to me are ist, 

 That you have loaded yourself with an unnecessary diffi- 

 culty in adopting Natura non facit saltum so unreservedly ; 

 and 2d, It is not clear to me why, if continual physical 

 5 conditions are of so little moment as you suppose, varia- 

 tion should occur at all. 



However, I must read the book two or three times 

 more before I presume to begin picking holes. 



I trust you will not allow yourself to be in any way 

 10 disgusted or annoyed by the considerable abuse and mis- 

 representation which, unless I greatly mistake, is in store 

 for you. Depend upon it, you have earned the lasting 

 gratitude of all thoughtful men. And as to the curs 

 which will bark and yelp, you must recollect that some of 

 15 your friends, at any rate, are endowed with an amount 

 of combativeness which (though you have often and justly 

 rebuked it) may stand you in good stead. 



I am sharpening up my claws and beak in readiness. 

 Looking back over my letter, it really expresses so 

 20 feebly all I think about you and your noble book, that I 

 am half-ashamed of it; but you will understand that, like 

 the parrot in the story, " I think the more." Ever yours 

 faithfully, T. H. HUXLEY. 



[To John Tyndall. Naples, March 31, 1872. On 



25 Mount Vesuvius.] 



From Messina I came on here, and had the great good 

 fortune to find Vesuvius in eruption. Before this fact 

 the vision of good Bence Jones forbidding much exertion 

 vanished into thin air, and on Thursday up I went in 

 30 company with Ray Lankester and my friend Dohrn's 

 father, Dohrn himself being unluckily away. We had a 

 glorious day, and did not descend till late at night. The 



