IS65 LETTERS TO DARWIN 287 



But perhaps the young lady who has been kind enough to 

 act as taster 'of my books heretofore will read the explanatory 

 notice, and give me her ideas thereupon (always recollecting 

 that almost the whole of it was written in the pre-Darwinian 

 epoch. ) 



I do not hear very good accounts of you — to my sorrow — 

 though rumours have reached me that the opus magnum * is 

 completely developed though not yet born. 



I am grinding at the mill and getting a little tired. My 

 belongings flourishing as I hope you are. — Ever yours faithfully, 



T. H. Huxley. 



Jermyn Street, A/ny 29, 1865. 



My dear Darwin — I meant to have written to you yesterday 

 to say how glad I shall be to read whatever you like to send me. 



I have to lecture at the Royal Institution this week, but 

 after Friday, my time will be more at my own disposal than 

 usual ; and as always I shall be most particularly glad to be of 

 any use to you. 



Any glimmer of light on the question you speak of is of the 

 utmost importance, and I shall be immensely interested in learn- 

 ing your views. And of course I need not add I will do my best 

 to upset them. That is the nature of the beast. 



I had a letter from one of the ablest of the younger zoologists 

 of Germany, Haeckel, the other day, in which this passage 

 occurs : — 



" The Darwinian Theory, the establishment and develop- 

 ment of which is the object [of] all my scientific labours, has 

 gained ground immensely in Germany (where it was at first 

 so misunderstood) during the last two years, and I entertain 

 no doubt that it will before long be everywhere victorious." 

 And he adds that I dealt far too mildly with Kolliker. 



With kindest remembrances to Mrs. Darwin and your family 

 — Ever yours faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



This year, as is seen from the foregoing, he was again 

 in direct communication with Professor Ernst Haeckel of 

 Jena, the earliest and strongest champion of Darwinian 

 ideas in Germany. The latter wished to enlarge his ob- 

 servations by joining some English scientific expedition, if 

 any such were in preparation, but was dissuaded by the fol- 



* On Pangenesis, 



