38 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP, n 



paper of a boy myself, and now I am an extremely tough old 

 personage. . . . 



With our united kind regards to Mr. May and yourself 

 Ever yours very faithfully, T> R HUXLEY. 



Perhaps if he had been able each year to carry out the 

 wish expressed in the following letter, which covered an 

 introduction to Dr. Tyndall at his house on the Bel Alp, the 

 breakdown of 1883 might have been averted. 



4 MARYBOROUGH PLACE, LONDON, N.W., 

 July 5 (1881 ?) 



MY DEAR SKELTON It is a great deal more than I would say 

 for everybody, but I am sure Tyndall will be very much obliged 

 to me for making you known to him; and if you, insignificant 

 male creature, how very much more for the opportunity of 

 knowing Mrs. Skelton ! 



For which last pretty speech I hope the lady will make a 

 prettier curtsey. So go boldly across the Aletsch, and if they 

 have a knocker (which I doubt), knock and it shall be opened 

 unto you. 



I wish I were going to be there too ; but Royal Commissions 

 are a kind of endemic in my constitution, and I have a very bad 

 one just now.* 



With kind remembrances to Mrs. Skelton Ever yours very 

 faithfully, T R HuxLEy> 



The ecclesiastical sound of his new title of Dean of the 

 College of Science afforded him a good deal of amusement. 

 He writes from Grasmere, where he had joined his family 

 for the summer vacation : 



Aug. 18, iSSi. 



MY DEAR DONNELLY I am astonished that you don't know 

 that a letter to a Dean ought to be addressed ' The Very Revd." 

 I don't generally stand much upon etiquette, but when my sacred 

 character is touched I draw the line. 



We had athletics here yesterday, and as it was a lovely day, 

 all Cumberland and Westmoreland sent contingents to see the 

 fun. . . . 



* The Medical Acts Commission, iSSi-2. 



