248 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY cHAP. X 



English Government would ever act upon my opinion — 

 and that was that the P.O. was a fit and proper recogni- 

 tion for science and letters. I have no doubt that he 

 has kept this in mind ever since — in fact Lord Salisbury's 

 letter (which was very handsome) showed he had been 

 told of my obiter dictum. Donnelly was the first channel 

 of inquiry whether I would accept, and was very strong 

 that I should. 



So you see if I had wished to refuse it, it would have 

 been difficult and ungracious. But, on the whole, I thought 

 the precedent good. Playfair tells me he tried to get it 

 done in the case of Faraday and Babbage thirty years ago, 

 and the thing broke down. Moreover a wicked sense of 

 the comedy of advancing such a pernicious heretic, helped 

 a good deal. 



The worst of it is, I have just had a summons to go to 

 Osborne on Thursday and it is as much as I shall be able 

 to do. 



We have been in South Wales, in the neighbourhood 

 of the Colliers, and are on our way to the Wallers for the 

 Festival week at Gloucester. We hope to get back to 

 Eastbourne in the latter half of September and find the 

 house clean swept and garnished. After that, by the way, 

 it is not nice to say that we shall hope to have a visit 

 from Mrs. Foster and you. 



With our love to you both — Ever yours, 



T. H. Huxley. 



I am glad you are resting, but oh, why another 

 Congress ! 



HoDESLEA, Eastbourne, 

 June 21, 1892. 



My dear Donnelly — You have been and done me at 

 last, you betrayer of confidence. This is what comes of 

 confiding one's pet weakness to a bosom-friend ! 



But I can't deny my owti words, or the accuracy of 

 your devil of a memory — and, moreover, I think the 

 precedent of great importance. 



