422 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, xxiii 



Now I am inclined to think that the job may be well worth 

 doing, in that it will give me the opportunity of emphasising the 

 distinction between the view I hold and Spencer's, and perhaps 

 of proving that Balfour is an agnostic after my own heart. So 

 please send the book. 



Only if this infernal weather, which shrivels me up soul and 

 body, lasts, I do not know how long I may be over the business. 

 However, you tell me to take my own time. — Ever yours very 

 faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



Hodeslea, Eastbourne, February 18, 1895. 



My dear Knowles — I send you by this post an instalment 

 (the larger moiety) of my article, which I should be glad to 

 have set up at once in slip, and sent to me as speedily as may be. 

 The rest shall follow in the course of the next two or three days. 



I am rather pleased with the thing myself, so it is probably 

 not so very good ! But you will judge for yourself. — Ever yours 

 very faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



Hodeslea, Eastbourne, February 19, 1895. 



My dear Knowles — We send our best congratulations to 

 Mrs. Knowles and yourself on the birth of a granddaughter. I 

 forget whether you have had any previous experience of the 

 " Art d'etre Grandpere " or not — but I can assure you, from 14 

 such experiences, that it is easy and pleasant of acquirement, 

 and that the objects of it are veritable " articles de luxe," in- 

 volving much amusement and no sort of responsibility on the 

 part of the possessor. 



You shall have the rest of my screed by to-morrow's post. 

 — Ever yours very faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



Hodeslea, Eastbourne, February 20, 1895. 



My dear Knowles — Seven mortal hours have I been hard at 

 work this day to try to keep my promise to you, and as I find 

 that impossible, I have struck work and will see Balfour and his 

 Foundations, and even that ark of literature the Nineteenth, at 

 Ballywack, before I do any more. 



But the whole affair shall be sent by a morning's post to- 

 morrow. I have the proofs. I have found the thing getting 

 too long for one paper, and requiring far more care than I could 

 put into the next two days — so I propose to divide it, if you see 

 no objection. 



And there is another reason for this course. Influenza is 

 raging here. I hear of hundreds of cases, and if it comes my 



