It is quite conceivable that every species tends to produce varieties of a limited number and kind, and that the effect of natural selection is to favour the development of some of these, while it opposes the development of others along their predetermined line of modification.  ("Collected Essays” 2 223.) A whale does not tend to vary in the direction of producing feathers, nor a bird in the direction of producing whalebone. (In “Mr. Darwin’s Critics” 1871 “Collected Essays” 2 181.)

“On the strength of these extracts” (writes Mr. Romanes), “Schurman represents you ’to presuppose design, since development takes place along certain predetermined lines of modification.’  But as he does not give references, and as I do not remember the passages, I cannot consult the context, which I fancy must give a different colouring to the extracts.”

4 Marlborough Place, January 5, 1888.

My dear Romanes,

They say that liars ought to have long memories.  I am sure authors ought to.  I could not at first remember where the passage Schurman quotes occurs, but I did find it in the Encyclopaedia Britannica article on “Evolution” ["Collected Essays” 2 223.], reprinted in “Science and Culture,” page 307.

But I do not find anything about the “whale” here.  Nevertheless I have a consciousness of having said something of the kind somewhere. [In “Mr. Darwin’s Critics” 1871 “Collected Essays” 2 181.]

If you look at the whole passage, you will see that there is not the least intention on my part to presuppose design.

If you break a piece of Iceland spar with a hammer, all the pieces will have shapes of a certain kind, but that does not imply that the Iceland spar was constructed for the purpose of breaking up in this way when struck.  The atomic theory implies that of all possible compounds of A and B only those will actually exist in which the proportions of A and B by weight bear a certain numerical ratio.  But it is mere arguing in a circle to say that the fact being so is evidence that it was designed to be so.

I am not going to take any more notice of the everlasting D—­, as you appropriately call him, until he has withdrawn his slanders....

Pray give him a dressing—­it will be one of those rare combinations of duty and pleasure.

Ever yours very faithfully,

T.H.  Huxley.

[He was, moreover, constantly interested in schemes for the reform of the scientific work of the London University, and for the enlargement of the scope and usefulness of the Royal Society.  As for the latter, a proposal had been made for federation with colonial scientific societies, which was opposed by some of his friends in the x Club; and he writes to Sir E. Frankland on February 3:—­]

I am very sorry you are all against Evans’ scheme.  I am for it.  I think it a very good proposal, and after all the talk, I do not want to see the Society look foolish by doing nothing.