290 



LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, xvi 



them, but don't care to take any share in the burning of the 

 fingers. 



But the Boothites are hard hit, and may be allowed to 

 cry out. 



I begin to think that they must be right in saying that the 

 Devil is at work to destroy them. No other theory sufficiently 

 accounts for the way they play into my hands. Poor Clibborn- 

 Booth has a long — columns long — letter in the Times to-day, in 

 which, all unbeknownst to himself, he proves my case. 



I do believe it is a veritable case of the herd of swine, and 

 I shall have to admit the probability of that miracle. 



Love to J. and Co. from us all. — Ever your affectionate 



Pater. 



Hodeslea, Eastbourne, Jan. n, 1S91. 



My dear Mr. Clodd — I am very much obliged to you for the 

 number of the St. James's Gazette, which I had not seen. The 

 leading article expresses exactly the same conclusions as those 

 at which I had myself arrived from the study of the deed of 

 1878. But of course I was not going to entangle myself in a 

 legal discussion. However, I have reason to know that the 

 question will be dealt with by a highly qualified legal expert 

 before long. The more I see of the operations of headquarters 

 the worse they look. I get some of my most valuable informa- 

 tion and heartiest encouragement from officers of the Salvation 

 Army ; and I knew, in this way, of Smith's resignation a couple 

 of days before it was announced ! But the poor fellows are so 

 afraid of spies and consequent persecution, that some implore 

 me not to notice their letters, and all pledge me to secrecy. So 

 that I am Vice-Fontanelle with my hand full of truth, while I 

 can only open my little finger. 



It is a case of one down and t'other come on, just now. 



" " will get his deserts in due time. But, oh dear, what a 



waste of time for a man who has not much to look to. No; 

 " waste " is the wrong word ; it's useful, but I wish that some- 

 body else would do it and leave me to my books. 



My wife desires her kind regards. I am happy to say she is 

 now remarkably well. If you are this way, pray look in at our 

 Hermitage. — Yours very faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



Huxley wealth and honours, nor do they cause the murder of the 

 innocent. To insinuate a resemblance which you dare not state 

 openly is an outrage on common decency. . . ." 



