122 > SCIENCE AND PSEUDO-SCIENCE m 



information, which are disguised, though not con- 

 cealed, by these floral decorations. But, in his 

 concluding sentences, the Duke soars into a 

 Tyrtsean strain which roused even my dull soul. 



It was liigli time, indeed, that some revolt should be raised 

 against that Reign of Terror which had come to be established 

 in the scientific world under the abuse of a great name, Pro- 

 fessor Huxley has not joined this revolt openly, for as yet, in- 

 deed, it is only beginning to raise its head. But more than once 

 and very lately he has uttered a warning voice against the 

 shallow dogmatism that has provoked it. The time is coming 

 when that revolt will be carried further. Higher interpretations 

 will be established. Unless I am much mistaken, they are 

 already coming in sight (p. 339). 



I have been living very much out of the world 

 for the last two or three years, and when I read 

 this denunciatory outburst, as of one filled with 

 the spirit of prophecy, I said to myself, " Mercy 

 upon us, wha,t has happened ? Can it be that X. 

 and Y. (it would be wrong to mention the names 

 of the vigorous young friends which occurred to 

 'me) are playing Danton and Robespierre; and 

 that a guillotine is erected in the courtyard of 

 Burlington House for the benefit of all anti- 

 Darwinian Fellows of the Royal Society ? Where 

 are the secret conspirators against this tyranny, 

 whom I am supposed to favour, and yet not have 

 the courage to join openly ? And to think of my 

 poor oppressed friend, Mr. Herbert Spencer, * com- 

 pelled to speak with bated breath ' (p. 338) 

 certainly for the first time in my thirty-odd years' 



