i875 VIVISECTION COMMISSION 473 



What with occupation of time, worry and vexation, this 

 horrid Commission is playing the deuce with me. I have felt 

 it my duty to act as counsel for Science, and was well satisfied 

 with the way things were going. But on Thursday when I was 



absent at the Council of the Royal Society was examined, 



and if what I hear is a correct account of the evidence he gave 

 I may as well throw up my brief. 



I am told that he openly professed the most entire indiffer- 

 ence to animal suffering, and said he only gave anaesthetics to 

 keep animals quiet ! 



I declare to you I did not believe the man lived who was 

 such an unmitigated cynical brute as to profess and act upon 

 such principles, and I would willingly agree to any law which 

 would send him to the treadmill. 



The impression his evidence made on Cardwell and Forster 

 is profound, and I am powerless (even if I had the desire which 

 I have not) to combat it. He has done more mischief than all 

 the fanatics put together. 



I am utterly disgusted with the whole business. — Ever yours, 



T. H. Huxley. 



Of course keep the little article on Species. It is in some 

 American Encyclopaedia published by Appleton. And best 

 thanks for your book. I shall study it some day, and value it as 

 I do every line you have written. Don't mention what I have 

 told you outside the circle of discreet Darwindom. 



4 Marlborough Place, A^ov. 2, 1875. 



My dear Darwin — Our secretary has telegraphed to you to 

 Down, and written to Queen Anne Street. 



But to make sure, I send this note to say that we expect you 

 at 13 Delahay Street * at 2 o'clock to-morrow. And that I have 

 looked out the highest chair that was to be got for you.f — Ever 

 yours very faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



The Commission reported early in 1876, and a few 

 months after Lord Carnarvon introduced a bill intituled 

 " An Act to amend the law relating to Cruelty to Animals." 

 It was a more drastic measure than was demanded. As a 

 writer in Nature (1876, p. 248) puts it: "The evidence on 



* Where the Commission was sitting. 



t Mr. Darwin was long in the leg. When he came to our house 

 the biggest hassock was always placed in an arm-chair to give it the 

 requisite height for him. 



