TJic International Scientific Series. 277 



having my project brought up at the British Association 

 and indorsed there. I am going to dine with his boys on 

 Monday night, at the new University Club, to post them 

 up a little before they start for America. Of course I can- 

 not at this stage ask Spencer, Tyndall, Huxley, or Lub- 

 bock to go in on the enterprise, but I must make them as 

 available as possible to get other men. Tyndall sees my 

 position and has gone farthest in the way of promise. He 

 asked me what I thought of Helmholtz. I said, '* He is 

 worth the whole of you." Tyndall said. " I think you can 

 get him." He gave me a note at once, and I wrote the 

 same day to Helmholtz, at Berlin, and to Bancroft.* I got 

 a reply yesterday from the latter, ottering all Germany if 

 I wanted it. He went immediately to see Helmholtz, n'ho 

 is to be in Scotland in August. He sent also a capital letter 

 to him. And thus it goes, slowly, but as fast as it can ; 

 and, as I said, I shall know by the middle of August where 

 I stand. . . . 



July 77, i8ji. — Having worn out my boots kicking 

 against the pricks, I take no further part nor lot m that 

 sort of work. I go in for this world from this date. As 

 evidence of my sincerity I have bought a swallow-tail, and 

 I wear it. I prayed that this cup might pass from me, but 

 the world's scientific salvation required that I should drmk 

 it to the dregs. I found it, if not indispensable, at least 

 important to my enterprise not to be singular, but to con- 

 form wherever it is possible. I took Addie's advice — told 

 her just exactly how I was situated, and told her I had the 

 most perfect faith in the infallibility of her judgment, and 

 I would abide by it implicitly. "I am afraid," said she, "if 

 I were in your place I should get a swallow-tail." And it 

 was so. 



August II, i8ji. — The present budget, if it reaches you, 

 will tell the story of my work. It is a success just as far 



* The historian George Bancroft, then minister to Germany. 



