As to sagacity, I should say that his judgment respecting the warmest place and the softest cushion in a room is infallible—­his punctuality at meal times is admirable; and his pertinacity in jumping on people’s shoulders, till they give him some of the best of what is going, indicates great firmness.

[To his youngest daughter:—­]

Hodeslea Eastbourne, January 8, 1893.

I wish you would write seriously to M—.  She is not behaving well to Oliver.  I have seen handsomer kittens, but few more lively, and energetically destructive.  Just now he scratched away at something that M—­ says cost 13 shillings 6 pence a yard—­and reduced more or less of it to combings.

M—­ therefore excludes him from the dining-room, and all those opportunities of higher education which he would naturally have in my house.

I have argued that it is as immoral to place 13 shillings 6 pence a yard-nesses within reach of kittens as to hang bracelets and diamond rings in the front garden.  But in vain.  Oliver is banished—­and the protector (not Oliver) is sat upon.

In truth and justice aid your Pa.

[This letter is embellished with fancy portraits of:—­]

Oliver when most quiescent (tail up; ready for action). 
O. as polisher (tearing at the table leg). 
O. as plate basket investigator. 
O. as gardener (destroying plants in a pot). 
O. as stocking knitter (a wild tangle of cat and wool). 
O. as political economist making good for trade at 13 shillings 6 pence
a yard (pulling at a hassock).

[The following to Sir John Evans refers to a piece of temporary forgetfulness.]

Hodeslea, Eastbourne, March 19, 1893.

My dear Evans,

It is curious what a difference there is between intentions and acts, especially in the matter of sending cheques.  The moment I saw the project of the Lawes and Gilbert testimonial in the “Times”, I sent my contribution in imagination—­and it is only the arrival of this circular which has waked me up to the necessity of supplementing my ideal cheque by the real one inclosed.

Ever yours very faithfully,

T.H.  Huxley.

[Reference has been made to the writing of the Romanes Lecture in 1892.  Mr. Gladstone had already consented to deliver the first lecture in that year; and early in the summer Professor Romanes sounded Huxley to find out whether he would undertake the second lecture for 1893.  Huxley suggested a possible bar in his precarious health; but subject to this possibility, if the Vice-Chancellor did not regard it as a complete disability, was willing to accept a formal invitation.

Professor Romanes reassured him upon this point, and further begged him, if possible, to be ready to step into the breach if Mr. Gladstone should be prevented from lecturing in the following autumn.  The situation became irresistible, and the second of the following letters to Mr. Romanes displays no more hesitation.]