486 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, xxx 



Cragside, Morpeth, Aug. 24, 1875. 



My DEAR Baynes — I think is like enough to do the 



" CcElenterata " well if you can make sure of his doing it at all. 

 He is a man of really great knowledge of the literature of 

 Zoology, and if it had not been for the accident of being a pro- 

 crastinating impracticable ass, he could have been a distin- 

 guished man. But he is a sort of Balaam-Centaur with the 

 asinine stronger than the prophetic moiety. 



I should be disposed to try him, nevertheless. 



I don't think I have had final revise of Biology yet. 



I do not know that " Coelenterata " is Lankester's specialty. 

 However, he is sure to do it well if he takes it up. — Ever yours 

 very faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



4 Marlborough Place, N.W., Oct. 12, 1875. 



My dear Baynes — Do you remember my telling you that I 

 should before long be publishing a book, of which general con- 

 siderations on Biology would form a part, and that I should 

 have to go over the same ground as in the article for the Ency- 

 clopaedia ? 



Well, that prediction is about to be verified, and I want to 

 know what I am to do. 



You see, as I am neither dealing with Theology, nor History, 

 nor Criticism, I can't take a fresh departure and say something 

 entirely different from what I have just written. 



On the other hand, if I republish what stands in the article, 

 the Encyclopaedia very naturally growls. 



What do the sweetest of Editors and the most liberal of 

 Proprietors say ought to be done under the circumstances? 



I pause for a reply. 



I have carried about Stanley's * note in my pocket-book 

 until I am sorry to say the flyleaf has become hideously 

 stained. 



The wife and daughters could make nothing of it, but I, 

 accustomed to the MS. of certain correspondents, have no doubt 

 as to the fourth word of the second sentence. It is " Canter- 

 bury." f Nothing can be plainer. 



Hoping the solution is entirely satisfactory, — Believe me, 

 ever yours very faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



* The Dean's handwriting was proverbial. 



f The writing of this word is carefully slurred until it is almost as 

 illegible as the original. 



