1872 TYNDALL'S LOAN 415 



It may be remembered that the 1872 address on " Ad- 

 ministrative Nihilism " led to a reply from the pen of Mr. 

 Spencer, as the champion of Individualism. When my 

 father sent him the volume in which this address was printed, 

 he wrote back a letter (Sept. 29, 1873) which is characterised 

 by the same feeling. It expresses his thanks for the book, 

 " and many more for the kind expression of feeling in the 

 preface. If you had intended to set an example to the 

 Philistines of the way in which controversial dififerences 

 may be maintained without any decrease of sympathy, you 

 could not have done it more perfectly." 



In connection with the building of the house, Tyndall 

 had advanced a sum of money to his friend, and with his 

 usual generosity, not only received interest with the greatest 

 reluctance, but would have liked to make a gift of the 

 principal. He writes, " If I remain a bachelor I will cir- 

 cumvent you — if not — not. It cleaves to me like dirt — and 

 that is why you wish to get rid of it." To this he received 

 answer : — 



Feb. 26, 1873. 

 I am not to be deterred by any amount of bribery and cor- 

 ruption, from bringing you under the yoke of a " rare and 

 radiant," — whenever I discover one competent to undertake the 

 ticklish business of governing you. I hope she will be " radiant," 

 — uncommonly " rare " she certainly will be ! 



Two years later this loan was paid off, with the following 

 letter :— 



4 Marlborough Place, yaw. 11, 1875. 

 My dear old Shylock — My argosies have come in, and here 

 is all that was written in the bond ! If you want the pound of 

 flesh too, you know it is at your service, and my Portia won't 

 raise that pettifogging objection to shedding a little blood into 

 the bargain, which that other one did. — Ever yours faithfully, 



T. H. Huxley. 



On October 24 Miss Jex Blake wrote to him to ask his 

 help for herself and the other women medical students at 

 Edinburgh. For two years they had only been able to get 

 anatomical teaching in a mixed class ; but wishing to have 

 a separate class, at least for the present, they had tried to 



