268 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. XI 



On the other hand, if any one maintains that the 

 material substance of the wafer persists, while its accidents 

 change, within the body, and that this identical substance 

 is sooner or later voided, I do not see how he is to be 

 driven out of that position by any scientific reasoning. 

 On the contrary, there is every reason to believe that the 

 elementary particles of the wafer and of the wine which 

 enter the body never lose their identity, or even alter their 

 mass. If one could see one of the atoms of carbon which 

 enter into the composition of the wafer, I conceive it 

 could be followed the whole way — from the mouth to the 

 organ by which it escapes — just as a bit of floating 

 charcoal might be followed into, through, and out of a 

 whirlpool. 



On October 6, 1892, died Lord Tennyson. In the 

 course of his busy life, Huxley had not been thrown 

 very closely into contact with him ; they would meet 

 at the Metaphysical Society, of which Tennyson was 

 a silent member ; and in the Life of Tennyson two 

 occasions are recorded on which Huxley visited 

 him : — 



Nov. 11, 1871. — Mr. Huxley and Mr. Knowles arrived 

 here (Aldworth) on a visit. Mr. Huxley was charming. 

 We had much talk. He was chivalrous, wide, and earnest, 

 so that one could not but enjoy talking with him. There 

 was a discussion on George Eliot's humility. Huxley and 

 A. both thought her a humble woman, despite a dogmatic 

 manner of assertion that had come upon her latterly in 

 her writings. {Op. cit. ii. 110.) 



March 17, 1873. — Professor Tyndall and Mr. Huxley 

 called. Mr. Huxley seemed to be universal in his interest, 

 and to have keen enjoyment of life. He spoke of In 

 Memoriam. (Ibid. ii. 143.) 



