3 r> MY LIFE 



Once only there was a partial disturbance of onr friendly rela- 

 tions, of the exact cause of which I have no record or recol- 

 lection. I had published some paper in which, I believe, I had 

 >tatcd some view which he had originated without mentioning 

 his name, and in such a way as to leave the impression that I 

 put it forth as original. This I had no notion of doing; but I 

 think it was an idea which had become quite familiar to me, 

 and that I had quite forgotten who originated it. I fancy 

 someone must have called Huxley's attention to it, and when 

 I next met him, I think just as he was leaving Jermyn Street 

 to go home, he was much put out, and said something inti- 

 mating that after what I had said in this paper, he wondered 

 at my speaking to him again. I forget what more was said, 

 but on going home I looked at the article, and found that I 

 had used some expression that might be interpreted as a slight 

 to him. I immediately wrote a letter of explanation and 

 regret, and I here give his reply, which greatly relieved me, 

 and our relations at once resumed their usual friendly 

 character. 



" My Dear Wallace, 



"Very many thanks for your kind letter. 

 " I am exceedingly callous to the proceedings of my 

 enemies, but (I suppose by way of compensation) I am very 

 sensitive to those of valued friends, and I certainly felt rather 

 sore when I read your paper. But I dare say I should have 

 ' consumed my own smoke ' in that matter as I do in most, 

 if I had not been very tired, very hungry, very cold, and 

 consequently very irritable, when I met you yesterday. Pray 

 forgive me if I was too plain spoken, 



" And believe me, as always, 



" Yours very faithfully, 



" T. H. Huxley/' 



"Jermyn Street, February 14, 1870." , 



In a letter he wrote me, in 1881, on another matter he 

 refers to my former intimacy with his children. " Your little 

 friends are grown to be big friends. Two are married, and 

 one has made me a grandfather. Leonard, my eldest boy, 



