1864 LETTER TO HIS SISTER 27 1 



times as much as he really does, and he becomes bound in com- 

 mon honesty to do his best to climb up to his reputed place. And 

 then the babies are a devouring fire, eating up the present and 

 discounting the future ; they are sure to want all the money one 

 can earn, and to be the better for all the credit one can win. 



However, I should fare badly without the young monkeys. 

 Your pet Marian is almost as shy as ever, though she has left 

 ofif saying " can't," by the way. 



My wife is wonderfully well. As I tell her, Providence has 

 appointed her to take care of me when I am broken down and 

 decrepit. 



I hope you can say as much of Mrs. Darwin. Pray give her 

 my kind regards. — And believe me, ever yours faithfully, 



T. H. Huxley. 



A letter to his sister gives a sketch of his position at 

 this time, speaking of which he says to Dr. (afterwards Sir 

 J.) Fayrer, " You and I have travelled a long way, in all 

 senses, since you settled my career for me on the steps of 

 the Charing Cross Hospital." It must be remembered that 

 his sister was living in Tennessee, and that her son at fifteen 

 was serving in the Confederate army. 



Jermyn Street, 4/5/64. 



You will want to know something about my progress in the 

 world. Well, at this moment I am Professor of Natural History 

 here, and Hunterian Professor of Comparative Anatomy at the 

 College of Surgeons. The former is the appointment I have held 

 since 1855 ; the latter chair I was asked to take last year, and 

 now I have delivered two courses in that famous black gown 

 with the red facings which the doctor will recollect very well. 

 What with the duties of these two posts and other official and 

 non-official business, I am worked to the full stretch of my 

 powers, and sometimes a little beyond them ; though hitherto 

 I have stood the wear and tear very well. 



I believe I have won myself a pretty fair place in science, 

 but in addition to that I have the reputation (of which, I fear, 

 you will not approve) of being a great heretic and a savage 

 controversialist always in rows. To the accusation of heresy 

 I fear I must plead guilty ; but the second charge proceeds only, 

 I do assure you, from a certain unconquerable hatred of lies 

 and humbug which I cannot get over. 



