OPPOSITION. 155 



in the " Life and Letters." The latter has pictured 

 a brilliant triumph for Huxley in the renowned duel 

 with the Bishop of Oxford. But I have been told 

 by more than one of the audience that Huxley was 

 really too angry to speak effectively, nor is this to 

 be wondered at, considering the extreme provocation. 

 Mr. William Sidgwick, who was present and sympa- 

 thised warmly with Huxley, has told me that this 

 was his opinion. I have heard the same from the 

 Rev. W. Tuckwell, who also quoted a remark of 

 the late Professor Rolleston tending in the same 

 direction. Mr. Tuckwell said that it was clear that 

 the audience as a whole was not carried away by 

 Huxley's speech, but, on the contrary, was obviously 

 shocked at it ; and he contrasted that occasion with 

 another at which he was also present, in the North, 

 several years later, when Huxley replied to an 

 opponent who, like the bishop, appealed to the 

 theological prejudices of his hearers. But by that 

 time the new teachings had been absorbed, and 

 Huxley gained a signal triumph. 



It must not be supposed that Darwin was by any 

 means indifferent to the attacks on his views. On 

 the contrary, his sensitive nature was greatly de- 

 pressed by the violent and often most unfair 

 criticisms to which he was subjected, although 

 beneath this evident disturbance lay the firm con- 

 viction that he had seen the truth, and that the 

 truth would in the end be seen by others. 



After the great fight with the bishop at the 



