1865 LETTERS TO DARWIN 387 



JERMYN STREET, June 1, 1865. 



MY DEAR DARWIN Your MS. 1 reached me safely last 

 evening. 



I could not refrain from glancing over it on the spot, 

 and I perceive I shall have to put on my sharpest 

 spectacles and best considering cap. 



I shall not write till I have thought well on the 

 whole subject. Ever yours, T. H. HUXLEY. 



JERMYN STREET, July 16, 1865. 



MY DEAR DARWIN I have just counted the pages 

 of your MS. to see that they are all right, and packed it 

 up to send you by post, registered, so I hope it will 

 reach you safely. I should have sent it yesterday, but 

 people came in and bothered me about post time. 



I did not at all mean by what I said to stop you from 

 publishing your views, and I really should not like to 

 take that responsibility. Somebody rummaging among 

 your papers half a century hence will find Pangenesis and 

 say, "See this wonderful anticipation of our modern 

 theories, and that stupid ass Huxley prevented his 

 publishing them." And then the Carlyleans of that day 

 will make me a text for holding forth upon the difference 

 between mere vulpine sharpness and genius. 



I am not going to be made a horrid example of in that 

 way. But all I say is, publish your views, not so much 

 in the shape of formed conclusions, as of hypothetical 

 developments of the only clue at present accessible, and 

 don't give the Philistines more chances of blaspheming 

 than you can help. 



I am very grieved to hear that you have been so ill 

 again. Ever yours faithfully, T. H. HUXLEY. 



26 ABBEY PLACE, Oct. 2, 1865. 



MY DEAR DARWIN "This comes hoping you are 

 well," and for no other purpose than to say as much. J 



1 The chapter on Pangenesis. See p. 384, note 2. 



