452 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. XVIII 



After twice reading these, Huxley had merely marked 

 a couple of paragraphs containing personal references 

 which might possibly be objectionable " to the ' heirs, 

 administrators and assigns,' if there are any, or to 

 the people themselves if they are living still." He 

 continues, June 1 : 



You will be quite taken aback at getting a proof from 

 me with so few criticisms, but even I am not so perverse 

 as to think that I can improve your own story of your 

 own life ! 



I notice a curious thing. If Ransom l had not over- 

 worked himself, I should probably not be writing this 

 letter. 



For if he had worked less hard I might have been 

 first and he second at the Examination at the University 

 of London in 1845. In which case I should have ob- 

 tained the Exhibition, should not have gone into the 

 navy, and should have forsaken science for practice. . . . 



Again on June 4 : 



MY DEAR SPENCER Here's a screed for you ! I wish 

 you well through it. 



Mind, I have no a priori objection to the transmission 

 of functional modifications whatever. In fact, as I told 

 you, I should rather like it to be true. 



But I argued against the assumption (with Darwin as 

 I do with you) of the operation of a factor which, if you 

 will forgive me for saying so, seems as far off support by 

 trustworthy evidence now as ever it was. Ever yours 

 very faithfully, 



T. H. HUXLEY. 



1 Dr. Ransom of Nottingham. 



