208 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY cHAP. VIII 



I had to "say a few words" after it, with the result that 

 I am entirely washed out to-day, and only able to send 

 you the feeblest of congratulations. — Ever yours, 



T. H. Huxley. 



The same thing appears in the following to Sir W. 

 H. Flower, which is also interesting for his opinion 

 on the question of promotion by seniority : — 



HoDESLEA, Eastbourne, 

 Oct. 23, 1891. 



My dear Flower — My "next worst thing" was 

 promoting a weak man to a place of responsibility in lieu 

 of a strong one, on the mere ground of seniority. 



Caeteris paribus, or with even approximate equality of 

 qualifications, no doubt seniority ought to count ; but it 

 is mere ruin to any service to let it interfere with the 

 promotion of men of marked superiority, especially in 

 the case of offices which involve much responsibility. 



I suppose as trustee I may requisition a copy of Wood- 

 ward's Catalogue. I should like to look a little more 

 carefully at it. . . . We are none the worse for our 

 pleasant glimpse of the world (and his wife) at your 

 house ; but I find that speechifying at public dinners is 

 one of the luxuries that I must utterly deny myself. It 

 will take me three weeks' quiet to get over my escapade. 

 — Ever yours very faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



