1871 LETTER TO ROSCOE 57 



This year also saw the inception of a scheme for a 

 series of science primers, under the joint editorship 

 of Professors Huxley, Eoscoe, and Balfour Stewart. 

 Huxley undertook the Introductory Primer, but it 

 progressed slowly owing to pressure of other work, 

 and was not actually finished till 1880. 



26 ABBEY PLACE, June 29, 1871. 



MY DEAR EOSCOE If you could see the minutes of 

 the Proceedings of the Aid to Science Commission, the 

 Contagious Diseases Commission and the School Board (to 

 say nothing of a lecture to Schoolmasters every morning), 

 you would forgive me for not having written to you 

 before. 



But now that I have had a little time to look at it, I 

 hasten to say that your chemical primer appears to me to 

 be admirable just what is wanted. 



I enclose the sketch for my Primer primus. You will 

 see the bearing of it, vough as it is. When it touches 

 upon chemical matters, it would deal with them in a 

 more rudimentary fashion than yours does, and only 

 prepare the minds of the fledglings for you. 



I send you a copy of the Report of the Education 

 Committee, the resolutions based on which I am now 

 slowly getting passed by our Board. The adoption of (c) 

 among the essential subjects has, I hope, secured the 

 future of Elementary Science in London. Cannot you 

 get as much done in Manchester ? Ever yours faithfully, 



T. H. HUXLEY. 



Sir Charles Lyell was now nearly 74 years old, and 

 though he lived four years longer, age was beginning 

 to tell even upon his vigorous powers. A chance 

 meeting with him elicited the following letter : 



