1871 LETTER TO DOHRN 59 



Contemporary Review 1 for December that you may see 

 what line I have really taken. Fanatics on both sides 

 abuse me, so I think I must be right. 



When is this infernal war to come to an end ? I hold 

 for Germany as always, but I wish she would make peace. 

 With best wishes for the New Year Ever yours, 



T. H. HUXLEY. 



26 ABBEY PLACE, July 7, 1871. 



MY DEAR DOHRN I have received your packet, and 

 I will take care that your Report is duly presented to 

 the Association. But the " Happy Family " in general, 

 and myself in particular, are very sorry you cannot come 

 to Scotland. We had begun to count upon it, and the 

 children are immeasurably disgusted with the Insects 

 which will not lay their eggs at the right time. 



You have become acclimatised to my bad behaviour in 

 the matter of correspondence, so I shall not apologise for 

 being in arrear. I hav^ been frightfully hard-worked 

 with two Royal Commissions and the School Board all 

 sitting at once, but I am none the worse, and things are 

 getting into shape which is a satisfaction for one's 

 trouble. I look forward hopefully towards getting back 

 to my ordinary work next year. 



Your penultimate letter was very interesting to me, 

 but the glimpses into your new views which it affords 

 are very tantalising and I want more. What you say 

 about the development of the Amnion in your last letter 

 still more nearly brought " Donner und Blitz ! " to my 

 lips and I shall look out anxiously for your new facts. 

 Lankester tells me you have been giving lectures on your 

 views. I wish I had been there to hear. 



He is helping me as Demonstrator in a course of in- 

 struction in Biology which I am giving to Schoolmasters 

 with the view of converting them into scientific 



1 Containing his article on "The School Boards," etc. 



