I859-] MR. HUXLEY'S ADHERENCE. 2 j 



But I feel that I have not yet by any means fully realized 

 the bearings of those most remarkable and original Chapters 

 III., IV. and V., and I will write no more about them just 

 now. 



The only objections that have occurred to me are, ist that 

 you have loaded yourself with an unnecessary difficulty in 

 adopting Natura non facit saltum so unreservedly. . . . And 

 2nd, it is not clear to me why, if continual physical conditions 

 are of so little moment as you suppose, variation should occur 

 at all. 



However, I must read the book two or three times more 

 before I presume to begin picking holes. 



I trust you will not allow yourself to be in any way dis- 

 gusted or annoyed by the considerable abuse and misrepre- 

 sentation which, unless I greatly mistake, is in store for you. 

 Depend upon it you have earned the lasting gratitude of all 

 thoughtful men. And as to the curs which will bark and 

 yelp, you must recollect that some of your friends, at any 

 rate, are endowed with an amount of combativeness which 

 (though you have often and justly rebuked it) may stand you 

 in good stead. 



I am sharpening up my claws and beak in readiness. 



Looking back over my letter, it really expresses so feebly 

 all I think about you and your noble book that I am half 

 ashamed of it ; but you will understand that, like the parrot 

 in the story, " I think the more." 



Ever yours faithfully, 



T. H. HUXLEY. 



C. Darwin to T. H. Huxley. 



Ilkley, Nov. 25th [1859]. 



MY DEAR HUXLEY, Your letter has been forwarded to 

 me from Down. Like a good Catholic who has received 

 extreme unction, I can now sing " nunc dimittis." I should 

 have been more than contented with one quarter of what you 

 have said. Exactly fifteen months ago, when I put pen to 



