If I had nothing else to write about I must wish you a Happy New Year and many on ’em; but, in fact, my wife and I have a great favour to ask of you, which is neither more nor less than to stand godfather for our little son.  You know my opinions on these matters, and I would not ask you to do anything I would not do myself, so if you consent, the clerk shall tell all the lies for you, and you shall be asked to do nothing else than to help devour the christening feed, and be as good a friend to the boy as you have been to his father.

My wife will have the youngster christened, although I am always in a bad temper from the time it is talked about until the ceremony is over.  The only way of turning the farce into a reality is by making it an extra bond with one’s friends.  On the other hand, if you have any objection to say, “all this I steadfastly believe,” even by deputy, I know you will have no hesitation in saying so, and in giving me as frank a refusal as my request. [As against his dislike of consenting to a rite, to him meaningless, he was moved by a feeling which in part corresponded to Descartes’ morale par provision,—­in part was an acknowledgment of the possibilities of individual development, making it only fair to a child to give it a connection with the official spiritual organisation of its country, which it could either ignore or continue on reaching intellectual maturity.]

Let me know if you have any fault to find with the new “Review.”  I think you will see it would have been a dreadful business to translate all the German titles in the bibliography.  I returned from a ramble about Snowdon with Busk and Tyndall on the 31st, all the better.  My wife is decidedly improved, though she mends but slowly.

Our best wishes to you and all yours.

Ever yours faithfully,

T.H.  Huxley.

Any fragments from the rich man’s table for the next Number of “N.H.R.?”

14 Waverley Place, January 6, 1861.

My dear Hooker,

My wife and I were very pleased to get your hearty and kind acceptance of Godfathership.  We shall not call upon you for some time, I fancy, as the mistress doesn’t get strong very fast.  However, I am only glad she is well as she is.  She came down yesterday for the first time.

It is very pleasant to get such expressions of opinion as I have had from you, Lyell, and Darwin about the “Review.”  They make me quite hopeful about its prosperity, as I am sure we shall be able to do better than our first number.

I am glad you liked what I said in the opening of my article. [(In the “Natural History Review” 1861 page 67—­]"The proof of his claim to independent parentage will not change the brutishness of man’s lower nature; nor, except in those valet souls who cannot see greatness in their fellow because his father was a cobbler, will the demonstration of a pithecoid pedigree one whit diminish man’s divine right of kingship over nature; nor lower the