288 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY cHAP. XII 



I should think that there is no living man, who, on 

 such an occasion, could intend and contrive to say so much 

 and .so well (in I'orm) without ever rising above the level 

 of antiquarian gossip. 



My lecture would have been ready if the Q.O.M. had 

 failed you, but I am very glad to have six months' respite, 

 as I now shall be able to write and rewrite it to my 

 heart's content. 



I will follow the Gladstonian precedent touching cap 

 and gown — but I trust the Vice-Chancellor will not ask 

 me to take part in a " Church Parade " and read the 

 lessons. I couldn't — really. 



As to the financial part of the business, to tell you the 

 honest truth, I would much rather not be paid at all for 

 a piece of work of this kind. I am no more averse to 

 turning an honest penny by my brains than any one else 

 in the ordinary course of things — quite the contrary ; but 

 this is not an ordinary occasion. However, this is a pure 

 matter of taste, and I do not want to set a precedent 

 which might be inconvenient to other people — so I agree 

 to what you propose. 



By the way, is there any type-writer who is to be 

 trusted in Oxford ? Some time ago I sent a MS. to a 

 London type-writer, and to my great disgust I shortly 

 afterwards saw an announcement that I was engaged on 

 the topic. 



On the following day he writes to his wife, who 

 was staying with her youngest daughter in town : — 



The Vice-Chancellor has written to me and I have fixed 

 May — exact day by and by. Mrs. Romanes has written 

 a crispy little letter to remind us of our promise to go 

 there, and I have chirrupped back. 



The " chirrup " ran as follows : — 



