.Q LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, in 



Sydney Harbour, March 21, 1848. 

 ... I have deferred writing to you in the hope of knowing 

 something from yourself of your doings and whereabouts, and 

 now that we are on the eve of departing for a long cruise in 

 Torres Straits, I will no longer postpone the giving you some 

 account of " was ist geschehen " on this side of the world. We 

 spent three months in Sydney, and a gay three months of it we 

 had, — nothing but balls and parties the whole time. In this 

 corner of the universe, where men of war are rather scarce, 

 even the old Rattlesnake is rather a lion, and her officers are 

 esteemed accordingly. Besides, to tell you the truth, we are 

 rather agreeable people than otherwise, and can manage to get up 

 a very decent turn-out on board on occasion. What think you of 

 your grave, scientific brother turning out a ball-goer and doing 

 the "light fantastic" to a great extent? It is a great fact, I 

 assure you. But there is a method in my madness. I found it 

 exceedingly disagreeable to come to a great place like Sydney 

 and think there was not a soul who cared whether I was alive 

 or dead, so I determined to go into what society was to be haid 

 and see if I could not pick up a friend or two among the multi- 

 tude of the empty and frivolous. I am happy to say that I have 

 had more success than I hoped for or deserved, and then as 

 now, two or three houses where I can go and feel myself at 

 home at all times. But my " home " in Sydney is the house of 

 my good friend Mr. Fanning, one of the first merchants in the 

 \ place. But thereby hangs a tale which, of all people in the 

 world, I must tell you. Mrs. Fanning has a sister, and the dear 

 little sister and I managed to fall in love with one another in 

 the most absurd manner after seeing one another^I will not 

 tell you how few times, lest you should laugh. Do you remem- 

 ber how you used to talk to me about choosing a wife? Well, 

 I think that my choice would justify even your fastidiousness. 

 ... I think you will understand how happy her love ought to 

 and does make me. I fear that in this respect indeed the ad- 

 vantage is on my side, for my present wandering life and uncer- 

 tain position must necessarily give her many an anxious thought. 

 Our future is indeed none of the clearest. Three years at the 

 very least must elapse before the Rattlesnake returns to Eng- 

 land, and then unless I can write myself into my promotion or 

 something else, we shall be just where we were. Nevertheless 

 I have the strongest persuasion that four years hence I shall 

 be married and settled in England. We shall see. 



