XXV 



RESIGNS CHAIRMANSHIP 325 



and it is specially in connection with this that the 

 Council desire, if possible, to secure your services. 



The Council will, I am sure, be extremely grateful if 

 you are able to entertain this request favourably ; and 

 personally, I need hardly assure you that I will do my 

 best to take up as little of your time as possible. ..." 



This request he complied with. 



He was much gratified by the following invita- 

 tion to join " The Club," but feeling that it would 

 not be possible for him to attend often, asked that 

 his election might be postponed. A year or two 

 later he did join " The Club." 



The Camp, Sunningdale, 

 Feb. 17. 



My dear Lubbock — You have doubtless heard of 

 Hirst's death — a grievous loss to our little Club. Bates, 

 too, on the same day. 



I have been commissioned to ask whether it would be 

 agreeable to you to be proposed for membership of 

 " The Club," of which I enclose a card. It is the Blue 

 ribbon of such -like Clubs (always excepting the X !) 

 and holds the shades of Johnson, Goldsmith, Reynolds, 

 Banks and a host of the like. Of course, punctual 

 attendance is not expected, but a reasonable amount is. 

 I need not say that your company would be much prized, 

 and I am always anxious that The Club should contain a 

 strong contingent of the best scientific men. — Ever 

 affectionately yours, J. D. Hooker. 



This year he was living at 117 Piccadilly for 

 the Parliamentary season. The session was a 

 heavy one, and he writes that on February 23 

 he was called out of his bed to go down to the 

 House and vote. 



On March 2 his son-in-law, Mr. Van Zandt, 

 died with a wholly unexpected suddenness, 

 leaving Sir John's eldest daughter for the second 

 time a widow. He felt this tragedy very deeply, 

 as is shown by the entries referring to it in his 



