362 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP, xvni 



A letter to his sister gives a sketch of his position 

 at this time, speaking of which he says to Dr. 

 (afterwards Sir J.) Fayrer, "You and I have travelled 

 a long way, in all senses, since you settled my career 

 for me on the steps of the Charing Cross Hospital." * 

 It must be remembered that his sister was living in 

 Tennessee, and that her son at fifteen was serving in 

 the Confederate army. 



JERMYN STREET, 4/5/64. 



You will want to know something about my progress 

 in the world. Well, at this moment I am Professor of 

 Natural History here, and Hunterian Professor of 

 Comparative Anatomy at the College of Surgeons. The 

 former is the appointment I have held since 1855 ; the 

 latter chair I was asked to take last year, and now I 

 have delivered two courses in that famous black gown 

 with the red facings which the doctor will recollect very 

 well. What with the duties of these two posts and other 

 official and non-official business, I am worked to the full 

 stretch of my powers, and sometimes a little beyond 

 them ; though hitherto I have stood the wear and tear 

 very well. 



I believe I have won myself a pretty fair place in 

 science, but in addition to that I have the reputation (of 

 which, I fear, you will not approve) of being a great 

 heretic and a savage controversialist always in rows. To 

 the accusation of heresy I fear I must plead guilty ; but 

 the second charge proceeds only, I do assure you, from a 

 certain unconquerable hatred of lies and humbug which 

 I cannot get over. 



I have read all you tell me about the south with 

 much interest and with the warmest sympathy, so far as 



1 Sir Joseph Fayrer went in 1850 to India. He became a 

 professor at the Medical College, Calcutta, and afterwards Presi- 

 dent of the Medical Board, India Office. 



