276 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, xviii 



only part of the address to Darwin written by Sabine himself 

 contained the following passage : — 



" Speaking generally and collectively, we have expressly 

 omitted it (Darwin's theory) from the grounds of our award." 



Of course this would be interpreted by everybody as mean- 

 ing that, after due discussion, the council had formally resolved 

 not only to exclude Darwin's theory from the grounds of the 

 award, but to give public notice through the president that they 

 had done so, and furthermore, that Darwin's friends had been 

 base enough to accept an honour for him on the understanding 

 that in receiving it he should be publicly insulted ! 



I felt that this would never do, and therefore when the 

 resolution for printing the address was moved, I made a speech 

 which I took care to keep perfectly cool and temperate, disavow- 

 ing all intention of interfering with the liberty of the president 

 to say what he pleased, but exercising my constitutional right 

 of requiring the minutes of council making the award to be 

 read, in order that the Society might be informed whether the 

 conditions implied by Sabine had been imposed or not. 



The resolution was read, and of course nothing of the kind 

 appeared. Sabine didn't exactly like it, I believe. Both Busk 

 and Falconer remonstrated against the passage to him, and I 

 hope it will be withdrawn when the address is printed.* 



If not there will be an awful row,- and I for one will show 

 no mercy. — Ever yours faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



The foundation of the x Club towards the end of 1864 

 was a notable event for Huxley and his circle of scientific 

 friends. It was growing more and more difficult for them 

 to see one another except now and again at meetings of the 

 learned societies, and even that was quite uncertain. The 

 pressure of Huxley's own work may be inferred from his 

 letters at this time (especially to Darwin, July 2, 1863, and 

 January 16, 1864). Not only society, but societies had to 

 be almost entirely given up. Moreover, the distance from 

 one another at which some of these friends lived, added 

 another difficulty, so that Huxley writes to Hooker in his 

 " remote province " of Kew : " I wonder if we are ever to 

 meet again in this world." Accordingly in January 1864, 



* The passage stands in the published address, but followed by 

 another passage which softens it down. 



