.26 Selections from Huxley 



which your Lordship will preside will preserve it from 

 being influenced by those unworthy antagonisms, and that 

 the just and benevolent enterprise you have undertaken 

 may have a happy issue. I am, my Lord Mayor, your 

 5 obedient servant, THOMAS H. HUXLEY. 



[To John Tyndall. Hodeslea, Eastbourne, October 15, 

 1892. On the funeral of Alfred Tennyson.] 



My dear Tyndall I think you will like to hear that 

 the funeral yesterday lacked nothing to make it worthy 

 10 of the dead or the living. 



Bright sunshine streamed through the windows of the 

 nave, while the choir was in half gloom, and as each shaft 

 of light illuminated the flower-covered bier as it slowly 

 traveled on, one thought of the bright succession of his 

 15 works between the darkness before and the darkness 

 after. I am glad to say that the Royal Society was repre- 

 sented by four of its chief officers, and nine of the com- 

 monalty, including myself. Tennyson has a right to that, 

 as the first poet since Lucretius who has understood the 

 20 drift of science. 



We have heard nothing of you and your wife for 

 ages. Ask her to give us news, good news, I hope, of 

 both. 



My wife is better than she was, and joins with me in 

 25 love. Ever yours affectionately, T. H. HUXLEY. 



[To a young man. Hodeslea, Eastbourne, November 5, 

 1892. On choosing a profession.] 



Dear Sir I am very sorry that the pressure of other 

 occupations has prevented me from sending an earlier 

 30 reply to your letter. 



