1884 LETTERS 369 



How wonderfully Gordon is holding his own. I 

 should like to see him lick the Mahdi into fits before 

 Wolseley gets up. You despise the Jews, but Gordon is 

 more like one of the Maccabees or Bar-Kochba than any 

 sort of modern man. 



My wife sends love to both of you, and says you are 

 (in feminine language) "a dear thing in friends." Ever 

 yours very faithfully, T. H. HUXLEY. 



HOME OFFICE, Sept. 18, 1884. 



MY DEAR DONNELLY We have struck our camp at 

 Milford, and I am going down to Devonshire and Corn- 

 wall to-morrow partly on Fishery business, partly to 

 see if I can shake myself straighter by change of air. I 

 am possessed by seven devils not only blue, but of the 

 deepest indigo and I shall try to transplant them into 

 a herd of Cornish swine. 



The only thing that comforts me is Gordon's telegrams. 

 Did ever a poor devil of a Government have such a 

 subordinate before ? He is the most refreshing personality 

 of this generation. 



I shall be back by 30th September and I hope in 

 better condition for harness than now. Ever yours very 

 faithfuUy, T. H. HUXLEY. 



Replying to General Donnelly's arguments against 

 his resigning all his official posts, he writes : 



DARTMOUTH, Sept. 21, 1884. 



MY DEAR DONNELLY Your letters, having made a 

 journey to Penzance (where I told my wife I should go 

 last Friday, but did not, and brought up here instead) 

 turned up this morning. 



I am glad to have seen Lord Carlingford's letter, and 

 I am very much obliged to him for his kind expressions. 

 Assuredly I will not decide hastily. 



Now for your letter I am all for letters in these 



VOL. II 2 B 



