Huxley Aldous

réf. 47601 — By his son Leonard Huxley. London : Macmillan and Co. 1900 First printed October 1900 this the November 1900 reprint. Two volumes octavo in fine prize bindings for Sydney Grammar School full polished calf ruled in gilt with floral corner emblems the school's armorial crest with motto Schola Grammatica Sydneiensis on upper board Wigram Allen Prize stamped below spines in compartments with raised bands gilt tooling and contrasting morocco title labels lettered in gilt marbled edges and endpapers pp. viii; 2; 503; vi; 2; 504 engraved and photogravures plates preliminaries lightly foxed a fine copy. Tipped in to the first volume is an original holograph letter from Thomas Huxley four pages black bordered notepaper dated 'Jermyn St. Dec. 19th 1860' addressed to 'My dear Sir Alfred Stephen' stating that 'now my Lecture is over there are many things that must be done and are piling up' regretting that time did not permit their meeting up before Sir Alfred's return voyage to Australia. Thomas Huxley writes to the Chief Justice of New South Wales about his Lecture now known as 'The Great Debate' on Darwinian theory. In 1860 Thomas Henry Huxley was pitted against Bishop Samuel Wilberforce in an informal public debate on Darwinian theory which focused on the scientific evidence for evolution and its compatibility with a literal interpretation of the Bible. Known as 'Darwin's Bulldog' Huxley was one of Charles Darwin's key advocates and public interest in the subject was high as the On the Origin of Species had only been published months earlier in November 1859. Taking place at Oxford University this contest of ideas is known as the Huxley-Wilberforce debate the 1860 Oxford Evolution debate or simply the Great Debate. The debate is remembered for a key exchange where Wilberforce questioned Huxley about his potential ape ancestry. While accounts of the exact wording differ a review by The Victorian Web suggests Wilberforce asked if Huxley's lineage was through his grandfather or grandmother. Huxley's response emphasizing his preference for an ape ancestor over someone who would use their position to obscure the truth is seen as a significant moment in the public acceptance of evolutionary theory. Sir Alfred Stephen GCMG CB PC 20 August 1802 – 15 October 1894 was an Australian judge and Chief Justice of New South Wales from 1845 – 1873 including at the time this letter was written. This books on Huxley were awarded to James Farish Stephen a descendent in about the year 1900 and the letter which had been passed down through the family has been tipped-in to the first volume. James Stephen's obituary appeared in The Sydneian no. 358 July 1967: 'JAMES FARISH STEPHEN James Farish Stephen 1901 died in December last. Mr. Stephen had a distinguished academic record at School winning the following prizes:- 1902 - Morehead Scholarship. 1895 1901 - Knox Prizes. 1901 - Wigram Allen Prize Mathematics. 1900 Wigram Allen Prize Natural Science. He was a life Member of the Old Sydneians' Union.' A finely bound copy of this detailed textbook on this important set of works written by Huxley's son with an original manuscript letter by Huxley. Â hardcover