136 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHA1>. Vi 



personal ownership. Moreover, history shows that 

 land was originally held in several ownership, and 

 that not of the nation, but of the village community. 



These signs of renewed vigour induced Mr. 

 Knowles to write him a "begging letter," proposing 

 an article for the Nineteenth Century either in 

 commendation of Bishop Magee's recent utterances — 

 it would be fine for eulogy to come from such a 

 quarter after the recent encounter — or on the general 

 subject of which his Times letters dealt with a part, 



Huxley's choice was for the latter. Writing on 

 November 21, he says : — 



Now as to the article. 1 have only hesitated because 

 I want to get out a new volume of essays, and I am writ- 

 ing an introduction which gives me an immensity of 

 trouble. I had made up my mind to get it done by 

 Christmas, and if I write for you it won't be. However, 

 if you don't mind leaving it open tiU the end of this 

 month, I wiU see what can be done in the way of a screed 

 about, say, " The Absolute in Practical Life." The Bishop 

 would come in excellently ; he deserves aU praises, and 

 my only hesitation about singing them is that the con- 

 junction between the " Infidel " and the Churchman is 

 just what the blatant platform Dissenters who had been 

 at him would like. I don't want to serve the Bishop, for 

 whom I have a great liking and respect, as the bear served 

 his sleeping master, when he smashed his nose in driving 

 an unfortunate fly away ! 



By the way, has the Bishop published his speech or 

 sermon ? I have only seen a newspaper report. 



Soon after this, he proposed to come to town and 

 talk over the article with Mr. Knowles. The latter 



