120 CHARLES DARWIN. 



selection as well as evolution. On the other hand, 

 the opinion hsfs often been expressed that Huxley, 

 although agreeing with the "Origin" for some 

 years after its first appearance, changed his mind 

 in later years, and no longer supported Darwin's 

 views. 



I shall give reasons for rejecting both these 

 opinions about Huxley, although the first is far 

 nearer the truth than the second. The- latter is 

 clearly untenable, and was probably merely an in- 

 ference from the fact that after a time Huxley ceased 

 to enter into Darwinian controversies. But this was 

 because he had done his work with entire success, 

 and therefore turned his attention in other directions. 

 Whenever he was called on to write or speak about 

 Darwinism, as he was on two occasions within 

 a few months of his death, his writings and 

 speeches left no doubt about his thoughts on 

 the subject. Furthermore, in the Preface to 

 " Darwiniana," written in 1893, he expressly denied 

 that he had recanted or changed his opinions about 

 Darwin's views. 



In order to appreciate the influence of Darwin 

 upon Huxley, we must find out the beliefs of the 

 latter upon the " species question " before the ap- 

 pearance of the " Origin." In his chapter " On the 

 Reception of the ' Origin of Species ' " (" Life and 

 Letters," Vol. II.) Huxley says that, before 1858, he 

 took up an agnostic position as regards evolution 

 u . . . upon two grounds : firstly, that up to that 



