1 t j0 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap. IX 



We shall have to re-arrange the Examination business — this 

 partner having made his fortune and retiring from firm. Think 

 over what is to be done. — Ever yours, T. H. H. 



You don't happen to grow gentians in your Alpine region, 

 do you? 



Of his formal responsibility for the examinations he had 

 written earlier in the year: — 



Wells House, Ilkley, _/««*■ 15, 1886. 



My dear Donnelly — I think it is just as well that you could 

 not lay your hands on ink, for if you had you would only have 

 blacked them. (N.B. This is a goak.) 



You know we resolved that it was as well that I should go 

 on as Examiner (unpaid) this year. But I rather repent me of 

 it — for although I could be of use over the questions, I have had 

 nothing to do with checking the results of the Examination 

 except in honours, and I suspect that Foster's young Cambridge 

 allies tend always to screw the standard up. 



I am inclined to think that I had much better be out of it 

 next year. The attempt to look over examination papers now 

 would reduce the little brains I have left to mere pulp — and, on 

 the other hand, if there is any row about results, it is not de- 

 sirable that I should have to say that I have not seen the an- 

 swers. 



When I go you will probably get seven devils worse than the 

 first — but that is not the fault of the first devil. 



I am picking up here wonderfully in spite of the bad weather. 

 It rained hard yesterday and blew ditto — to-day it is blowing 

 dittoes — but there is sunshine between the rain and squalls. 



I hope you are better off. What an outlandish name 

 " Tetronila." I don't believe you have spelt it right. With best 

 regards to Mrs. Donnelly and my godson. — Ever yours, 



T. H. Huxley. 



4 Marlborough Place, Sept. 16, 1886. 

 My dear Hooker — I have sucked Grisebach's brains, looked 

 up Flora B. Americana, and F. Antarctica and New Zealand, 

 and picked about in other quarters. I found I knew as much as 

 Grisebach had to tell me (and more) about lutea, purpureo- 

 punctata, acaulis, campestris, and the verna lot, which are all I 

 got hold of at Arolla. But he is very good in all but classifica- 

 tion, which is logically " without form and void, and darkness 

 on the face of it." 



