264 KEW : 1879-1885 



Backed by pressure from many other friends, this per- 

 suasion succeeded, and Huxley was President till ill-health 

 compelled him to retire in 1885. 



Being no longer on the Council, Hooker was not concerned 

 with the management of the Eoyal Society during this period ; 

 one letter, however, shows that he was consulted in regard to 

 the workers in meteorology which had Oeen a special interest 

 of his own presidency. Should the title ' Eoyal ' be conferred 

 upon the Meteorological Society ? 



To T. H. Huxley 



August 23, 1883. 



I believe that the Metl. Socy. is a very respectable hard- 

 working body, but know no more about it. 



I think that the multiplication of ' Eoyal ' Societies is 

 an evil — and that the fact of there being a Meteorological 

 Council of the B.S. renders it inadvisable to dub the Meteoro- 

 logical Eoyal. 



The Scotch Met. Soc. will be the next claimant. If any 

 of these bodies would give us decent weather I would con- 

 sider their claims not only to Eoyalty but to Divine honours. 



One or two letters of miscellaneous interest may be quoted 

 here for their personal note, whether in light or serious vein. 



To Brian Hodgson 



October 6, 1883. 



I have not thanked you for your last kind letter. I do 

 think that the vigour you show in your hand- writing is 

 marvellous. My hand gets more cramped every year, and 

 I am about ashamed to send such scrawls even to ' the like 

 of you,' but your writing is as fresh as your affections, and 

 I can't say more. 



Yes, Buddhist Literature is making enormous strides, 

 and this must be an immense gratification to you who are 

 the Grand Lama of the lore ; but what a curious discovery 

 is this now hinted at, that the early Chinese history is 

 borrowed from the Chaldean ! 



You will laugh to hear that I am about to be made a 

 Freeman of the City ; the * Salters' Company,' which boasts 



