I837-] SECRETARYSHIP. 257 



cost me three days (and often more) in the fortnight. There 

 are likewise other accidental and contingent losses of time ; 

 I know Dr. Royle found the office consumed much of his 

 time. If by merely giving up any amusement, or by working 

 harder than I have done, I could save time, I would under- 

 take the Secretaryship ; but I appeal to you whether, with my 

 slow manner of writing, with two works in hand, and with 

 the certainty, if I cannot complete the Geological part within 

 a fixed period, that its publication must be retarded for a 

 very long time, whether any Society whatever has any claim 

 on me for three days' disagreeable work every fortnight. I can- 

 not agree that it is a duty on my part, as a follower of science, 

 as long as I devote myself to the completion of the work I 

 have in hand, to delay that, by undertaking what may be 

 done by any person who happens to have more spare time 

 than I have at present. Moreover, so early in my scientific 

 life, with so very much as I have to learn, the office, though no 

 doubt a great honour, &c., for me, would be the more burden- 

 some. Mr. Whewell (I know very well), judging from him- 

 self, will think I exaggerate the time the Secretaryship would 

 require ; but I absolutely know the time which with me the 

 simplest writing consumes. I do not at all like appearing so 

 selfish as to refuse Mr. Whewell, more especially as he has 

 always shown, in the kindest manner, an interest in my affairs. 

 But I cannot look forward with even tolerable comfort to un- 

 dertaking an office without entering on it heart and soul, and 

 that would be impossible with the Government work and the 

 Geology in hand. 



My last objection is, that I doubt how far my health will 

 stand the confinement of what I have to do, without any ad- 

 ditional work. I merely repeat, that you may know I am not 

 speaking idly, that when I consulted Dr. Clark in town, he 

 at first urged me to give up entirely all writing and even cor- 

 recting press for some weeks. Of late anything which flurries 

 me completely knocks me up afterwards, and brings on a vio- 

 lent palpitation of the heart. Now the Secretaryship would 

 be a periodical source of more annoying trouble to me than 



