of evolution to be the stronghold of parsondom, the drag on
civilisation, the degradation of every important pursuit with which they
mix themselves--"intrigues" in politics, and "friponnes" in science.

If my claws and beak are good for anything they shall be kept from
hindering the progress of any science I have to do with.

Ever yours faithfully,

T.H. Huxley.

[Three letters to Mr. Spencer show that he had been reading and
criticising the proofs of the "First Principles." With regard to the
second letter, which gives reasons for rejecting Mr. Spencer's remarks
about the power of inflation in birds during flight, it is curious to
note Mr. Spencer's reply:--

How oddly the antagonism comes out even when you are not conscious of
it! My authority was Owen! I heard him assign this cause for the falling
of wounded birds in one of his lectures at the College of Surgeons.]

14 Waverley Place, September 3, 1860.

My dear Spencer,

I return your proofs by this post. To my mind nothing can be better than
their contents, whether in matter or in manner, and as my wife arrived,
independently, at the same opinion, I think my judgment is not
one-sided.