226 Edward Livingston Youmans. 



was beyond doubt the ablest, and solidest, and most im- 

 portant that had ever been delivered before the College 

 of Preceptors. Tyndall escaped before I could speak to 

 him, but I dropped a note to him next morning, thanking 

 him for his kind consideration in coming, for his too par- 

 tial remarks, and for his shielding me from the little hail- 

 storm which I should have undoubtedly experienced other- 

 wise. He replied, saying: "I quite expected the little hail- 

 storm, and was astonished to find what you said (for the 

 view was very strong for such a place) so heartily appre- 

 ciated. Believe me, when I say from my very heart, the 

 paper surprised me as much as it delighted me." 



October 2oth. It turned out to be a mistake about Spen- 

 cer sending Tyndall to the lecture. Spencer was under a 

 wrong impression about the time, and says he intended to 

 be there himself. Tyndall and Huxley were invited the 

 day before. Huxley said, had it not been for a previous 

 engagement he should have been there. 



October 2jth. I have only to-day at twelve sent the last 

 revise of my lecture to the printer; in making it there has 

 been a large loss of power, owing to my solicitude. I was 

 editing the work and thrusting a discourse of my own 

 among the highest names, and assuming the largest and 

 most difficult topic of all to treat. Besides, I was to submit 

 it to the coldest and keenest critic in the world, who cared 

 not tuppence for anything but the facts. I was to write on 

 his own topic his special topic, and where he rejects all 

 the physiology of psychology to be gathered in books, and 

 doesn't know what an " authority " is. It has been hard 

 work, but I have at last got the epithet "capital" out of 

 him, and that without asking, as you may well understand. 

 I hoped to send you the sheets to-day, and sat up all night 

 nearly, last night, hoping to get them ready; but Spencer 

 could only finish the reading this morning too late, and I 

 have had to give it up. The Introduction I care less about 



