iS75 LETTERS 481 



cheeks and appetites might compete with any five children of 

 their age and weight. Jess and Mady are here with us and 

 have been doing great execution at a ball at Newcastle. I 

 really don't know myself when I look at these young women, 

 and my hatred of possible sons-in-law is deadly. All send their 

 love. — Ever yours very faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



Wish you joy of Bristol. 



The following letter to Danvin was written when the 

 Polar Expedition under Sir George Xares was in prepara- 

 tion. It illustrates the range of observation which his friends 

 had learned to expect in him : — 



Athenveim Clib, Jan. 11, 1S75. 



My DEAR Darwin — I write on behalf of the Polar Com- 

 mittee of the Royal Society to ask for any suggestions you may 

 be inclined to offer us as instructions to the naturalists who are 

 to accompany the new expedition. 



The task of drawing up detailed instructions is divided 

 among a lot of us ; but you are as full of ideas as an egg is full 

 of meat, and are shrewdly suspected of having, somewhere 

 in your capacious cranium, a store of notions which would be 

 of great value to the naturalists. 



All I can say is, that if you have not already " collated 

 facts " on this topic, it will be the first subject I ever suggested 

 to you on which you had not. 



Of course we do not expect you to put yourself to any great 

 trouble — nor ask for such a thing — but if you will jot down any 

 notes that occur to you we shall be thankful. 



We must have everything in hand for printing by March 15. 

 — Ever yours very faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



The follow-ing letter dates from soon after the death of 

 Charles Kingsley : — 



Science Schools, S. Kensington. Oct. 11, 1S75. 



Dear Miss Kingsley — I sincerely trust that you believe I 

 have been abroad and prostrated by illness, and have thereby 

 accounted for receiving no reply to your letter of a fortnight 

 back. 



The fact is that it has only just reached me. owing to the 

 neglect of the people in Jermyn Street, who ought to have sent 

 it on here. 



