5H 



LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, xxxn 



ceived an enthusiastic account of the proceedings from his 

 son, and wrote to thank Huxley, who replied : — 



4 Marlborough Place, Nov. 21, 1877. 

 My dear Darwin — Nothing ever gave me greater pleasure 

 than the using the chance of speaking my mind about you and 

 your work which was aiTorded me at the dinner the other night. 

 I said not a word beyond what I believe to be strictly accurate : 

 and, please Sir, I didn't sneer at anybody. There was only a 

 little touch of the whip at starting, and it was so tied round with 

 ribbons that it took them some time to find out where the flick 

 had hit. T. H. Huxley. 



He writes to his wife: — ■ 



I will see if I can recollect the speech. I made a few notes 

 sitting in Dewar's room before the dinner. But as usual I did 

 not say some things I meant to say, and said others that came 

 up on the spur of the moment. 



And again : — 



Please I didn't say that Reaumur was the other greatest 

 scientific man since Aristotle. But I said that in a certain 

 character of his work he was the biggest man between Aristotle 

 and Darwin. I really must write out an " authorised version " 

 of my speech. I hear the Latin oration is to be in Nature this 

 week, and Lockyer wanted me to give him the heads of my 

 speech, but I did not think it would be proper to do so, and 

 refused. I have written out my speech as well as I can recollect 

 it. I do not mind any friend seeing it, but you must not let it 

 get about as the dinner was a private one. 



The notes of his speech run as follows : — 



Mr. President — I rise with pleasure and with alacrity to 

 respond to the toast which you have just proposed, and I may 

 say that I consider one of the greatest honours which have be- 

 fallen me, to be called upon to represent my distinguished friend 

 Mr. Darwin upon this occasion. I say to represent Mr. Darwin, 

 for I cannot hope to personate him, or to say all that would be 

 dictated by a mind conspicuous for its powerful humility and 

 strong gentleness. 



Mr. Darwin's work had fully earned the distinction you 

 have to-day conferred upon him four and twenty years ago; 

 but I doubt not that he would have been found in that circum- 



