Ever yours,

T.H.  Huxley.

[And again to Sir M. Foster:—­]

You cannot be more sorry than I am that I am going to Manchester, but I am not proud of chalking up “no popery” and running away—­for all Evans’ and your chaff—­and, having done a good deal to stir up the Technical Education business and the formation of the Association, I cannot leave them in the lurch when they urgently ask for my services...

The Delta business must wait till after the 30th.  I have no heart for anything just now.

[The letters following were written in answer to letters of sympathy.]

85 Marina, St. Leonards, November 25, 1887.

My dear Mr. Clodd,

Let me thank you on my wife’s behalf and my own for your very kind and sympathetic letter.

My poor child’s death is the end of more than three years of suffering on her part, and deep anxiety on ours.  I suppose we ought to rejoice that the end has come, on the whole, so mercifully.  But I find that even I, who knew better, hoped against hope, and my poor wife, who was unfortunately already very ill, is quite heart-broken.  Otherwise, she would have replied herself to your very kind letter.

She has never yet learned the art of sparing herself, and I find it hard work to teach her.

Ever yours very faithfully,

T.H.  Huxley.

[In the same strain he writes to Dr. Dyster:—­]

Rationally we must admit that it is best so.  But then, whatever Linnaeus may say, man is not a rational animal—­especially in his parental capacity.

85, Marina, St. Leonards, November 25, 1887.

My dear Knowles,

I really must thank you very heartily for your letter.  It went to our hearts and did us good, and I know you will like to learn that you have helped us in this grievous time.

My wife is better, but fit for very little; and I do not let her write a letter even, if I can help it.  But it is a great deal harder to keep her from doing what she thinks her duty than to get most other people to do what plainly is their duty.

With our kindest love and thanks to all of you.

Ever, my dear Knowles, yours very faithfully,

T.H.  Huxley.

Yes, you are quite right about “loyal.”  I love my friends and hate my enemies, which may not be in accordance with the Gospel, but I have found it a good wearing creed for honest men.

[The “Address on behalf of the National Association for the Promotion of Technical Education,” first published in the ensuing number of “Science and Art,” and reprinted in “Collected Essays,” 3 427-451, was duly delivered in Manchester, and produced a considerable effect.

He writes to Sir M. Foster, December 1:—­]

I am glad I resisted the strong temptation to shirk the business.  Manchester has gone solid for technical education, and if the idiotic London papers, instead of giving half a dozen lines of my speech, had mentioned the solid contributions to the work announced at the meeting, they would have enabled you to understand its importance.