24 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY cHAP. 1 



had not happened to have done anything to strike the 

 popular mind. 



Discussed the possibility of submission of names by 

 somebody for the approval and choice of the Cro\\Ti. For 

 Science, I thought the R.S. Council might discharge that 

 duty very fairly. I thought that the Academy of Berlin 

 presented people for the Pour le Me'rite, but Lord S. 

 thought not. 



In the course of conversation I spoke of Hooker's case 

 as a glaring example of the wrong way of treating dis- 

 tinguished men. Observed that though I did not person- 

 ally care for or desire the institution of such honorary 

 order, yet I thought it was a mistake in policy for the 

 Crown as the fountain of honour to fail in recognition 

 of that which deserves honour in the world of Science. 

 Letters, and Art. 



Lord Salisbury smilingly summed up. " Well, it 

 seems that you don't desire the establishment of such an 

 order, but that if you were in my place you woidd 

 establish it," to which I assented. 



Said he had spoken to Leighton, who thought well of 

 the project. 



It was not long, however, before he received im- 

 perative notice to quit town with all celerity. He 

 fell ill with what turned out to be pleurisy ; and 

 after recruiting at Ilkley, went again to Switzerland. 



4 Maelborough Place, 

 Ju?ie 27, 1887. 



My dear Foster — ... I am very sorry that it will 

 be impossible for me to attend [the meeting of committee 

 down for the following Wednesday]. If I am well 

 enough to leave the house I must go into the countrj' 

 that day to attend the funeral of my wife's brother-in- 

 law and my very old friend Fanning, of whom I may 



