i866 LESSONS ON ELEMENTARY PHYSIOLOGY 305 



Thus there is nothing for it but for us to agree to differ, 

 each supporting his own side to the best of his ability, and 

 respecting his friend's freedom as he would his own, and doing 

 his best to remove all petty bitterness from that which is at 

 bottom one of the most important constitutional battles in which 

 Englishmen have for many years been engaged. 



If you and I are strong enough and wise enough, we shall 

 be able to do this, and yet preserve that love for one another 

 which I value as one of the good things of my life. 



If not, we shall come to grief. I mean to do my best. — • 

 Ever yours faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



Huxley was always of opinion that to write a good 

 elementary text-book required a most extensive and inti- 

 mate knowledge of the subject under discussion. Certainly 

 the Lessons on Elementary Physiology which appeared at the 

 end of 1866 were the outcome of such knowledge, and met 

 with a wonderful and lasting success as a text-book. A 

 graceful compliment was passed upon it by Sir William 

 Lawrence, when, in thanking the author for the gift of the 

 book, he wrote (January 24, 1867), " in your modest book 

 ' indocti discant, ament meminisse periti ! ' " 



This was before the days of American copyright, and 

 English books were usually regarded as fair prey by the 

 mass of American publishers. Among the exceptions to 

 this practical rule were the firm of D. Appleton & Co., who 

 made it a point of honour to treat foreign authors as though 

 they were legally entitled to some equitable rights. On their 

 behalf an arrangement was made for an authorised Ameri- 

 can edition of the Physiology by Dr. Youmans, whose 

 acquaintance thus made my father did not allow to drop. 



It is worth noting that by the year 1898 this little book 

 had passed through four editions, and been reprinted thirty- 

 one times. 



