428 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP, xvil 



sure that I shall not try to carry it out some day. In 

 the meanwhile, however, I am bent upon an enterprise 

 which I think still more important. 



After I have done with the reconcilers, I will see 

 whether theology cannot be told her place rather more 

 plainly than she has yet been dealt with. 



However, this between ourselves, I am seriously 

 anxious to use what little stuff remains to me well, and 

 I am not sure that I can do better service anywhere than 

 in this line, though I don't mean to have any more 

 controversy if I can help it. 



(Don't laugh and repeat Darwin's wickedness.) Ever 

 yours very faithfully, T. H. HUXLEY. 



However, this " contribution to the next round " 

 seemed to the editor rather too pungent in tone. 

 Accordingly Huxley revised it, the letters which 

 follow describing the process : 



4 MARLBOROUGH PLACE, N.W., 

 Jan. 15, 1886. 



MY DEAR KNOWLES I will be with you at 1.30. I 

 spent three mortal hours this morning taming my wild 

 cat He is now castrated ; his teeth are filed ; his claws 

 are cut ; he is taught to swear like a " mieu " ; and to 

 spit like a cough ; and when he is turned out of the bag 

 you won't know him from a tame rabbit. Ever yours, 



T. H. HUXLEY 



4 MARLBOROUGH PLACE, N.W., 

 Jan. 20, 1886. 



MY DEAK KNOWLES Here is the debonnaire animal 

 finally titivated, and I quite agree, much improved, 

 though I mourn the loss of some of the spice. But it 

 is an awful smash as it stands worse than the first, I 

 think. 



