1878 THE AFGHAN WAR 241 



glad to find, however, that he does not think it expedient 

 to reiterate his old story about the valuelessness of 

 vivisection in the establishment of the doctrine of the 

 circulation. 



I hear that that absurd creature K goes about 



declaring that I have made all sorts of blunders. Could 

 not somebody be got to persuade him to put what he has 

 to say in black and white ? 



Controversy is as abhorrent to me as gin to a reclaimed 

 drunkard ; but oh dear ! it would be so nice to squelch 

 that pompous impostor. 



I hope you admire the late aspects of the British 

 Lion. His tail goes up and down from the intercrural 

 to the stiffly erect attitude per telegram, while his head 

 is sunk in the windbag of the House of Commons. 



I am beginning to think that a war would be a good 

 thing if only for the inevitable clean sweep of all the 

 present governing people which it would bring about. 

 Ever yours very faithfully, T. H. HUXLEY. 



To HIS ELDEST DAUGHTER 



SCIENCE SCHOOLS, SOUTH KENSINGTON, 

 Dee. 7, 1878. 



DEAREST JESS You are a badly used young person 

 you are ; and nothing short of that conviction would 

 get a letter out of your still worse used Pater, the bete 

 noire of whose existence is letter- writing. 



Catch me discussing the Afghan question with you, 

 you little pepper pot. No, not if I know it. Read 

 Fitzjames Stephen's letter in the Times, also Bartle Frere's 

 memorandum, also Napier of Magdala's memo. Them's 

 my sentiments. 



Also read the speech of Lord Hartington on the 

 address. He is a man of sense like his father, and you 

 will observe that he declares that the Government were 



VOL. II R 



