FRIENDSHIP WITH HUXLEY 263 



It is very pleasant to have our niches in the Pantheon 

 together. It is getting on for forty years since we were 

 first ' acquent,' and considering with what a very consider- 

 able dose of tenacity, vivacity, and that glorious firmness 

 (which the beasts who don't like us call obstinacy) we are 

 both endowed, the fact that we have never had the shadow 

 of a shade of a quarrel is more to our credit than being 

 ex- Presidents and Copley medallists. 



But we have had a masonic bond in both being well 

 salted in early life. I have always felt I owed a great deal 

 to my acquaintance with the realities of things gained in 

 the old Rattlesnake. 



Huxley's accession to the Presidency of the Royal Society 

 in succession to William Spottiswoode, who died on June 27, 

 1883, was a matter of great concern to Hooker. In his view 

 the office should be filled by a man of science, not merely a man 

 of wealth or of high social standing ; a man who had shown 

 good business capacity, but not simply a business man of 

 scientific attainments or one who had made a fortune by turning 

 scientific invention to practical account. The first step was 

 to choose a temporary President from the Council till the next 

 general meeting of the Society on November 30. Hooker, 

 when called upon as ex-President to ' prick the list,' had no 

 hesitation in his choice of one who to his other qualifications 

 added that of admirable management as Secretary of the 

 Society. 



Thus he was very glad when his friend after some hesita- 

 tion accepted the temporary office, though refusing on grounds 

 of ill-health and overwork to be nominated for subsequent 

 election to the permanent post. Nevertheless he continued 

 his persuasion : ' You must not throw aside all possibility of 

 the Presidency. I regard the Society's position as very critical,' 

 and after enlarging oa the various factors involved, remarks : 



Lady Hooker won't hear of my pressing you to take the 

 chair, because of your health ; on the other hand she won't 



hear of much as she likes him personally. What does 



Mrs. Huxley say these women have a curious 6th sense 

 not given to men. (July 2, 1883.) 



