270 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. XI 



it But I do not know at the present time of my own 

 knowledge how the matter stands. Nothing would please 

 me more than to investigate the matter afresh in the way 

 it ought to be investigated, but that would require a 

 voyage of some time, and the investigation of this thing 

 in its native haunts is a kind of work for which, for many 

 years past, I have had no opportunity, and which I do 

 not think I am very likely to enjoy again. Therefore 

 my own judgment is in an absolute state of suspension 

 about it. I can only assure you what has been said about 

 this friend of mine, but I cannot say whether what is 

 said is justified or not. But I feel very happy about the 

 matter. There is one thing about us men of science, and 

 that is, no one who has the greatest prejudice against 

 science can venture to say that we ever endeavour to 

 conceal each other's mistakes. And, therefore, I rest in 

 the most entire and complete confidence that if this should 

 happen to be a blunder of mine, some day or other it 

 will be carefully exposed by somebody. But pray let me 

 remind you whether all this story about Bathybius be 

 right or wrong, makes not the slightest difference to the 

 general argument of the remarkable address put before 

 you to-night All the statements your President has 

 made are just as true, as profoundly true, as if this little 

 eccentric Bathybius did not exist at all 



Several letters of miscellaneous interest may be 

 quoted. 



The following acknowledges the receipt of Essays 

 in Romance: 



4 MARLBOROTJGH PLACE, LONDON, N.W., 

 January 1879. 



MY DEAR SKELTON Being the most procrastinating 

 letter -writer in existence, I thought, or pretended to 

 think, when I received your Essays in Romance that it 

 would not be decent to thank you until I had read the 



