85 Marina, St. Leonards, December 13, 1887.

My dear Knowles,

I have to go to town to-morrow for a day, so that puts an end to the possibility of getting my screed ready for January.  Altogether it will be better to let it stand over.

I do not know whence the copyright extract came, except that, as
Putnam’s name was on the envelope, I suppose they sent it.

Pearsall Smith’s practice is a wonderful commentary on his theory.  Distribute the contents of the baker’s shop gratis—­it will give people a taste for bread!

Great is humbug, and it will prevail, unless the people who do not like it hit hard.  The beast has no brains, but you can knock the heart out of him.

Ever yours very truly,

T.H.  Huxley.

4 Marlborough Place, January 9, 1888.

My dear Donnelly,

Here is my proof.  Will you mind running your eye over it?

The article is long, and partly for that reason and partly because the general public wants principles rather than details, I have condensed the practical half.

H. Spencer and “Jus” will be in a white rage with me.

Ever yours very faithfully,

T.H.  Huxley.

[To Professor Frankland, February 6:—­]

I am glad you like my article.  There is no doubt it is rather like a tadpole, with a very big head and a rather thin tail.  But the subject is a ticklish one to deal with, and I deliberately left a good deal suggested rather than expressed.

Casalini, West Cliff, Bournemouth, February 9, 1888.

My dear Donnelly,

No!  I don’t think softening has begun yet—­vide “Nature” this week. ["Nature” 37 337 for February 9, 1888:  review of his article in the “Nineteenth Century” on the “Industrial Struggle for Existence.”] I am glad you found the article worth a second go.  I took a vast of trouble (as the country folks say) about it.  I am afraid it has made Spencer very angry—­but he knows I think he has been doing mischief this long time.

Bellows to mend!  Bellows to mend!  I am getting very tired of it.  If I walk two or three miles, however slowly, I am regularly done for at the end of it.  I expect there has been more mischief than I thought for.

How about the Bill?

Ever yours,

T.H.  Huxley.

[However, he and Mr. Spencer wrote their minds to each other on the subject, and as Huxley remarks with reference to this occasion,] “the process does us both good, and in no way interferes with our friendship.”

[The letter immediately following, to Mr. Romanes, answers an inquiry about a passage quoted from Huxley’s writings by Professor Schurman in his “Ethical Import of Darwinism.”  This passage, made up of sentences from two different essays, runs as follows:—­]