CHAPTER XXXIII 



THE PRESIDENCY OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY 



FROM 1873 to 1878 Hooker was President of the Royal 

 Society. Pre-eminent as a philosophic botanist, successful in 

 administration, trusted for his cool judgment and knowledge 

 of men, he was clearly marked out for the most hon9ur- 

 able and most responsible service which Science can claim 

 of her representatives, and on the resignation of Sir George 

 Airy, he was nominated by a three-fourths majority of the 

 Council. 



The duty was one which he could not refuse, but which 

 he undertook with great reluctance. It meant the restric- 

 tion of his own botanical work ; it meant a good deal of 

 speech-making and an inevitable pressure to accept the long 

 over-due knighthood for thirty years of official services 

 which so far he had, on various pretexts, managed to evade. 

 Nolo episcopari was his cry when he knew he was to be 

 nominated. 



To Charles Darwin 



January 12, 1873. 



I quite agree as to the awful honor of P.R.S., and its 

 inestimable value to me in my position, and under existing 

 circumstances but my dear fellow, I don't want to be 

 crowned head of science. I dread it ' Uneasy is the head,' 

 &c. and then my beloved Gen. Plant, will be grievously 

 impeded. The dream of my later days is to be let alone, 

 where I am and as I am I want no higher position, no 

 dignities nor honors. I cannot undertake to represent 



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