1890 LETTERS 291 







HODESLEA, EASTBOURNE, Jan. 30, 1891. 



MY DEAR HOOKER I trust I have done with Booth and Co. 

 at last. What an ass a man is to try to prevent his fellow- 

 creatures from being humbugged ! Surely I am old enough to 

 know better. I have not been so well abused for an age. It's 

 quite like old times. 



And now I have to settle accounts with the duke and the 

 G.O.M. I wonder when the wicked will let me be at peace. 

 Ever yours affectionately, T. H. HUXLEY. 



Other letters touch upon the politics of the hour, espe- 

 cially upon the sudden and dramatic fall of Parnell. He 

 could not but admire the power and determination of the 

 man, and his political methods, an admiration rashly inter- 

 preted by some journalist as admiration of the objects to 

 which these political methods were applied. (See p. 134.) 



GRAND HOTEL, EASTBOURNE, Nov. 26, 1890. 



MY DEAR LECKY Very many thanks for your two volumes, 

 which I rejoice to have, especially as a present from you. I was 

 only waiting until we \vere settled in our new house as I hope 

 we shall be this time next week to add them to the set which 

 already adorn my shelves, and I promise myself soon to enjoy 

 the reading of them. 



The Unionist cause is looking up. What a strange thing it 

 is that the Irish malcontents are always sold, one way or the 

 other, by their leaders. 



I wonder if the G.O.M. ever swears ! Pity if he can't have 

 that relief just now. 



With our united kind regards to Mrs. Lecky and yourself 

 Ever yours very faithfully, T. H. HUXLEY. 



GRAND HOTEL, EASTBOURNE, Nov. 29, 1890. 



MY DEAR HOOKER I have filled up and sent your and my 

 copies of entry for Athenaeum. 



Carpenter has written the best popular statement I know of, 

 of the results of criticism, in a little book called The First Three 

 Gospels, which is well worth reading. [See p. 282.] 



I have promised to go to R.S. dinner and propose Stokes' 

 health on Monday, but if the weather holds out as Arctic as it 

 is now, I shall not dare to venture. The driving east wind, 

 blowing the snow before it here, has been awful ; for ten years 

 they have had nothing like it. I am glad to say that my little 



