1888 BRITISH MUSEUM TRUSTEESHIP 61 



general appear damnable and I myself an entire failure. 

 If that is a sign of returning health you may look upon 

 my restoration as certain. 



If it is only Murray's speculations he wants to publish 

 separately, I should say by all means let him. But the 

 facts, whether advanced by him or other people, ought 

 all to be in the official record. I agree we can't stir. 



I scented the " goak." How confoundedly proud you 

 are of it. In former days I have been known to joke 

 myself. 



I will look after the questions if you like. In my 

 present state of mind I shall be a capital critic — on 

 Dizzy's views of critics. . . — Ever yours, T, H. H. 



This year Huxley was appointed a Trustee of the 

 British Museum, an office which he had held ex officio 

 from 1883 to 1885, as President of the Royal 

 Society. 



This is referred to in the following letter of 

 March 9 : — 



My dear Hooker — Having nothing to do plays the 

 devil with doing anything, and I suppose that is why I 

 have been so long about answering your letter. 



There is nothing the matter with me now except want 

 of strength. I am tired out with a three-mile walk, and 

 my voice goes if I talk for any time. I do not suppose 

 I shall do much good till I get into high and dry air, 

 and it is too early for Switzerland yet. ... 



You see I was honoured and gloried by a trusteeship 

 of the B.M.i These things, I suppose, normally come 



^ Replying on the 2ud to Sir John Evaus' congratulations, he 

 says : — " It is some months since Lord Salisbury made the proposal 

 to me, and I was beginning to wonder what had happened — 

 whether Cantuar had put his foot down lor example, and objected 

 to bad company." 



