56 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. II 



dignity of knowledge better when they declined all such 

 meretricious trappings. l 



The usual note of high pressure recurs in the 

 following letter, written to thank Darwin for his new 

 work, The Descent of Man, and Sexual Selection. 



JERMYN STREET, Feb. 20, 1871. 



MY DEAE DARWIN Best thanks for your new book, a 

 copy of which I find awaiting me this morning. But I 

 wish you would not bring your books out when I am so 

 busy with all sorts of things. You know I can't show 

 my face anywhere in society without having read them 

 and I consider it too bad. 



No doubt, too, it is full of suggestions just like tliat I 

 have hit upon by chance at p. 212 of voLi., which con- 

 nects the periodicity of vital phenomena with antecedent 

 conditions. 



Fancy lunacy, etc., coming out of the primary fact 

 that one's rcth ancestor lived between tide-marks ! I 

 declare it's the grandest suggestion I have heard of for an 

 age. 



I have been working like a horse for the last fortnight, 

 with the fag end of influenza hanging about me and I 

 am improving under the process, which shows what a 

 good tonic work is. 



I shall try if I can't pick out from " Sexual Selection " 

 some practical hint for the improvement of gutter-babies, 

 and bring in a resolution thereupon at the School Board. 

 Ever yours faithfully, T. H. HUXLEY. 



1 On the other hand, he thought it right and proper for officials, 

 in scientific as in other departments, to accept such honours, as 

 giving them official power and status. In his own case, while 

 refusing all simple titular honours, he accepted the Privy Councillor- 

 ship, because, though incidentally carrying a title, it was an office ; 

 and an office in virtue of which a man of science might, in theory 

 at least, be called upon to act as responsible adviser to the Govern- 

 ment, should special occasion arise. 



