1850 FAME AS A NATURALIST 93 



I consider myself a great brute, and I will give you leave, 

 if you will but write soon, to scold me as much as you 

 like. All the family are well. My father is the only 

 one who is much altered, and that in mind and strength, 

 not in bodily health, which is very good. My mother 

 has lost her front teeth, but is otherwise just the same 

 amusing, nervous, distressingly active old lady she always 

 was. 



Our cruisers visit New Orleans sometimes, and if ever 

 I am on the West India station, who knows, I may take 

 a run up to see you all. Kindest love to the children. 

 Tell Florry that I could not get her the bird with the 

 long tail, but that some day Twill send her some pictures 

 of copper-coloured gentlemen with great big wigs and no 

 trousers, and tell her her old uncle loves her very much 

 and never forgets her nor anybody else. 



God bless you, dearest Lizzie. Write soon. Ever 

 your brother, TOM. 



Thus within a month of landing in England, 

 Huxley had secured his footing in the scientific 

 world. He was freed for the time from the more 

 irksome part of his profession ; his service in the 

 navy had become a stepping-stone to the pursuits in 

 which his heart really was. He had long been half 

 in despair over the work which he had sent out like 

 the dove from the ark, if haply it might find him 

 some standing ground in the world ; no news of it 

 had reached him till he was about to start on his 

 homeward voyage, but he returned to discover that 

 at a single stroke it had placed him in the front rank 

 of naturalists. 



