226 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, xvi 



you thought I was going to ask you next. But I am not, for 

 rejoiced as I should be to have you, I know you have heaps of 

 better work to do, and hate journalism. 



But can you tell me of any plastic young botanist who would 

 come in all for glory and no pay, though I think pay may be got 

 if the concern is properly worked. How about Oliver ? 



And though you can't and won't be an editor yourself, won't 

 you help us and pat us on the back ? 



The tone of the Review will be mildly episcopophagous, and 

 you and Darwin and Lyell will have a fine opportunity if you 

 wish it of slaying your adversaries. — Ever yours faithfully, 



T. H. Huxley. 



Several of his elder friends tried to dissuade him from 

 an undertaking which would inevitably distract him from 

 his proper work. Sir C. Lyell prophesied (see p. 217) that 

 all the work would drift to the most energetic member 

 of the staff, and Huxley writes to Hooker, August 2, 

 i860:— 



Darwin wrote me a very kind expostulation about it, telling 

 me I ought not to waste myself on other than original work. In 

 reply, however, I assured him that I must waste myself willy- 

 nilly, and that the Review was only a save-all. 



The more I think of it the more it seems to me it ought to 

 answer if properly conducted, and it ought to be of great use. 



The first number appeared in January 1861. Writing 

 on the 6th, Huxley says : — 



It is pleasant to get such expressions of opinion as I have 

 had from Lyell and Darwin about the Review. They make me 

 quite hopeful about its prosperity, as I am sure we shall be able 

 to do better than our first number. 



It was not long, however, before Lyell's prophecy began 

 to come true. In June Huxley writes : — 



It is no use letting other people look after the journal. I find 

 unless I revise every page of it, it goes wrong. 



But in July 1863 he definitely ceased to contribute: — 



I did not foresee all this crush of work, (he writes) when 

 the Review was first started, or I should not have pledged myself 

 to any share in supplying it. (Moreover, with the appointment 



