182 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY cHAP. VII 



HoDESLEA, Eastbourne, 

 Dec. 2, 1890. 



My dear Hooker — . . . The question of questions 

 now is whether the Unionists will have the sense to carry 

 a measure settling the land question at once. If they do 

 that, I do not believe it will be in the power of man to 

 stir them further. And my belief is that Parnell will be 

 quite content with that solution. He does not want to 

 be made a nonentity by Davitt or the Irish Americans. 



But what ingrained liars they all are ! That is the 

 bottom of all Irish trouble. Fancy Healy and Sexton 

 going to Dublin to swear eternal fidelity to their leader, 

 and now openly declaring that they only did so because 

 they believed he would resign. — Ever yours affectionately, 



T. H. Huxley. 



HoDESLEA, Jan, 10, 1891. 



My DEAR Foster — I am trying to bring the Booth 

 business to an end so far as I am concerned, but it's like 

 getting a wolf by the ears ; you can't let him go exactly 

 when you like. 



But the result is quite worth the trouble. Booth, 

 Stead, Tillett, Manning and Co. have their little game 

 spoilt for the present. 



You cannot imagine the quantity of letters I get from 

 the Salvation Army subordinates, thanking me and telling 

 me all sorts of stories in strict confidence. The poor devils 

 are frightened out of their lives by headquarter spies. 

 Some beg me not to reply, as their letters are opened. 



I knew that saints were not bad hands at lying before ; 

 but these Booth people beat Banagher. 



Then there is awaits skinning, and I believe the 



G.O.M. is to be upon me ! Oh for a quiet life. — Ever 

 yours faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



But by February 17 the Booth business was over, 



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