1888 THE 'CASKET LETTERS' 87 



I do not think that the Hazlemere country would do 

 for us, nor indeed any country place so long as we cannot 

 regiilarly set up house. 



Heaven knows I don't want to bother about anything 



at present. But I should like to convince that he 



does not yet understand the elements of [his subject]. 

 "What a copious inkspilling cuttlefish of a writer he is ! — 

 Ever yours, T. H. Huxley. 



4 Marlborottgh Place, London, N,W., 



Nov. 2, 1888. 



Mt dear Skelton — Best thanks for the second volume 

 of Maitland of Lethington. I have been in the Engadine 

 for the last four months, trying to repair the crazy old 

 " house I live in," and meeting with more success than I 

 hoped for when I left home. 



Your volume turned up amidst a mountain of ac- 

 cumulated books, papers, and letters, and I can only hope 

 it has not been too long without acknowledgment. 



I have been much interested in your argument about 

 the " Casket letters." The comparison of Crawford's 

 deposition with the Queen's letter leaves no sort of doubt 

 that the writer of one had the other before him ; and 

 under the circumstances I do not see how it can be 

 doubted that the Queen's letter is forged. 



But though thus whoUy agreeing with you in sub- 

 stance, I cannot help thinking that your language on 

 p. 341 may be seriously pecked at. 



My experience of reporters leads me to think that 

 there would be no discrepancy at all comparable to that 

 between the two accounts, and I speak from the woeful 

 memories of the many Royal Commissions I have wearied 

 over. The accuracy of a good modern reporter is really 

 wonderful. 



And I do not think that " the two documents 

 were drawn by the same hand." I should say that the 



