326 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. XIII 



To HIS ELDEST SON 



4 MARLBOROUGH PLACE, 

 May 9, 1882. 



MY DEAR LEONARD Best thanks for your good 

 wishes. 1 Notwithstanding the disease of A.D., which 

 always proves mortal sooner or later, I am in excellent 

 case. . . . 



I knew both Lord F. Cavendish and his wife and 

 Mr. Burke. I have never been able to get poor Lady 

 Frederick out of my head since the news arrived. 



The public mind has been more stirred than by any- 

 thing since the Indian Mutiny. But if the Government 

 keep their heads cool, great good may come out of the 

 evil, horrible as it is. The Fenians have reckoned on 

 creating an irreparable breach between England and 

 Ireland. It should be our business to disappoint them 

 first and extirpate them afterwards. But the newspaper 

 writers make me sick, especially the Times. Ever your 

 affectionate father, T. H. HUXLEY. 



It is interesting, also, to see how he appeared 

 about this time to one of a younger generation, 

 acute, indeed, and discriminating, but predisposed 

 by circumstances and upbringing to regard him at 

 first with curiosity rather than sympathy. For this 

 account I am indebted to one who has the habit, so 

 laudable in good hands, of keeping a journal of 

 events and conversations. I have every confidence 

 in the substantial accuracy of so well trained a 

 reporter. 



1 For Ms birthday, May 4. 





