324 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. XVI 



the cynics who delight in degrading man, or with the 

 common run of materialists, who think mind is any the 

 lower for being a function of matter. I dislike them 

 even more than I do the pietists. 



Some of these days I shall look up the ape question 

 again, and go over the rest of the organisation in the same 

 way. But in order to get a thorough grip of the question, 

 I must examine into a good many points for myself. The 

 results, when they do come out, will, I foresee, astonish 

 the natives. 



I am celd-proof, and all the better for the Welsh trip. 

 To say truth, I was just on the edge of breaking down 

 when I went. Did I ever send you a letter of mine on 

 the teaching of Natural History ? It was published while 

 you were away, and I forget whether I sent it or not. 

 However, a copy accompanies this note . . . 



Of course there will be room for your review and 

 welcome. I have put it down and reckon on it. Ever 

 yours faithfully, 



T. H. HUXLEY. 



Huxley returned from the trip to Wales in time 

 to be with his wife for the New Year. The plot she 

 had made with Dr. Tyndall had been entirely suc- 

 cessful. The threatened breakdown was averted. 

 Wales in winter was as good as Switzerland. Of 

 the ascent of Snowdon he writes on December 28 : 

 " Both Tyndall and I voted it under present circum- 

 stances as good as most things Alpine." 



His wife, however, continued in very weak health. 

 She was prostrated by the loss of her little boy. So 

 in the middle of March he gladly accepted Mr. 

 Darwin's invitation for her and the three children 

 to spend a fortnight in the quiet of his house at 



