i87l LETTERS TO DOIIRN 3gg 



December that you may see what line I have really taken. 

 Fanatics on both sides abuse me, so 1 think I must be right. 



When is this infernal war to come to an end? I hold for 

 Germany as always, but I wish she would make peace. — With 

 best wishes for the New Year. — Ever yours, 



T. H. Huxley. 



26 Abuey Place, July 7, 1871, 



My dear Dohrn — I have received your packet, and I will 

 take care that your Report is duly presented to the Association. 

 But the " Happy Family " in general, and myself in particular, 

 are very sorry you cannot come to Scotland. We had begun 

 to count upon it, and the children are immeasurably disgusted 

 with the Insects which will not lay their eggs at the right 

 time. 



You have become acclimatised to my bad behaviour in the 

 matter of correspondence, so I shall not apologise for being in 

 arrear. I have been frightfully hard-worked with two Royal 

 Commissions and the School Board all sitting at once, but I am 

 none the worse, and things are getting into shape — which is a 

 satisfaction for one's trouble. I look forward hopefully towards 

 getting back to my ordinary work next year. 



Your penultimate letter was very interesting to me, but the 

 glimpses into your new views which it affords are very tanta- 

 lising — and I want more. What you say about the development 

 of the Amnion in your last letter still more nearly brought 

 " Donner und Blitz ! " to my lips — and I shall look out anxiously 

 for your new facts. Lankester tells me you have been giving 

 lectures on your views. I wish I had been there to hear. 



He is helping me as Demonstrator in a course of instruction 

 in Biology which I am giving to Schoolmasters — with the view 

 of converting them into scientific missionaries to convert the 

 Christian Heathen of these islands to the true faith. 



I am afraid that the English microscope turned out to be by 

 no means worth the money and trouble you bestowed upon it. 

 But the glory of such an optical Sadowa should count for some- 

 thing ! I wish that you would get your Jena man to supply me 

 with one of his best objectives if the price is not ruinous — I 

 should like to compare it with my -^^ in. of Ross.* 



* In this connection it may be noted that he himself invented a 

 combination microscope for laboratory use, still made by Crouch the 

 optician. (Ste Journ, Queckett Micr. Club, vol. v. p. 144.) 



