4IO LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, xxvi 



familiar type of the rabbit or frog. This was Rolleston's 

 practice ; but it may be noted that Professor Ray Lankester 

 has always maintained and further developed the " original 

 Huxleian plan of beginning with the same microscopic 

 forms " as being a most important philosophic improvement 

 on Rolleston's plan, and giving, he considers, " the truer 

 ' twist,' as it were, to a student's mind." 



When the book was sent to Darwin, he wrote back 

 (November 12, 1875) : — 



My dear Huxley — Many thanks for your biology, which 

 I have read. It was a real stroke of genius to think of such a 

 plan. Lord, how I wish that I had gone through such a course. 

 — Ever yours, C. Darwin. 



A large portion of his time and energy was occupied 

 in the organisation of this course of teaching for teachers, 

 and its elaboration before being launched on a larger scale 

 in October, when the Biological Department of the Jermyn 

 Street school was transferred to the new buildings at South 

 Kensington, fitted with laboratories which were to excite his 

 friend Dr. Dohrn's envy. But he was also at work upon his 

 share of the Science Primers, so far as his still uncertain 

 health allowed. This and the afifairs of the British Associa- 

 tion are the subject of several letters to Sir Henry Roscoe 

 and Dr. Tyndall. 



26 Abbey Place, April 8, 1872. 



My dear Roscoe — Many thanks for your kind letter of wel- 

 come. My long rest has completely restored me. As my doctor 

 told me, I was sound, wind and limb, and had merely worn my- 

 self out. I am not going to do that again, and you see that I 

 have got rid of the School Board. It was an awful incubus ! 



Oddly enough I met the Ashtons in the Vatican, and heard 

 about your perplexities touching Oxford. I should have advised 

 you to do as you have done. I think that you have a great 

 piece of work to do at Owens College, and that you will do it. 

 If you had gone to Oxford you would have sacrificed all the 

 momentum you have gained in Manchester; and would have had 

 to begin de novo, among conditions which, I imagine, it is very 

 hard for a non-University man to appreciate and adjust him- 

 eelf to. 



I like the look of the " Primers " (of which Macmillan has 



