18 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. I 



seen a good deal of him, and he strikes me as a man of 

 very considerable capacity and energy. He was to return 

 to Jena to-day. 



My friend Herbert Spencer will be glad to learn that 

 you appreciate his book. I have been his devil's advocate 

 for a number of years, and there is no telling how many 

 brilliant speculations I have been the means of choking 

 in an embryonic state. 



My wife does not know that I am writing to you, or 

 she would say apropos of your last paragraph that you 

 are an entirely unreasonable creature in your notions of 

 how friendship should be manifested, and that you make 

 no allowances for the oppression and exhaustion of the 

 work entailed by what Jean Paul calls a " Tochtervolles 

 Haus." I hope I may live to see you with at least ten 

 children, and then my wife and I will be avenged. Our 

 children will be married and settled by that time, and we 

 shall have time to write every day and get very wroth 

 when you do not reply immediately. Ever yours 

 faithfully, T. H. HUXLEY. 



All are well, the children so grown you will not 

 know them. 



July 18, 1870. 



MY DEAR DOHBN Notwithstanding the severe 

 symptoms of " Tochterkrankheit " under which I labour, 

 I find myself equal to reply to your letter. 



The British Association meets in September on the 

 14th day of that month, which falls on a Wednesday. 

 Of course, if you come you shall be provided for by the 

 best specimen of Liverpool hospitality. We have ample 

 provision for the entertainment of the "distinguished 

 foreigner." 



Will you be so good as to be my special ambassador 

 with Haeckel and Gegenbaur, and tell them the same 

 thing ? It would give me and all of us particular 

 pleasure to see them and to take care of them. 



