From T. H. Huxley   17 March 1869

My dear Darwin

After I had sent my letter to you the other day I thought how stupid I had been not to put in a slip of paper to say it was meant for Lushington’s edification.¹

I made sure you would understand that I wished it to be sent on & wrote it (standing on the points of my toes & with my tail up very stiff with that end in view²

I am getting so weary of people writing to propose controversy to me upon one point or other, that I begin to wish the article had never been written   The fighting in itself is not particularly objectionable but its the wasting time

I begin to understand your sufferings over the ‘Origin’—³ A good book is comparable to a piece of meat & fools are as flies, who swarm to it, each for the purpose of depositing & hatching his own particular maggot of an idea

Ever yours | T. H. Huxley

March 17. 1869