88 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. Ill 



A large portion of his time and energy was 

 occupied in the organisation of this course of teach- 

 ing for teachers, and its elaboration before being 

 launched on a larger scale in October, when the 

 Biological Department of the Jermyn Street school 

 was transferred to the new buildings at South 

 Kensington, fitted with laboratories which were to 

 excite his friend Dr. Dohrn's envy. But he was 

 also at work upon his share of the Science Primers, 

 so far as his still uncertain health allowed. This 

 and the affairs of the British Association are the 

 subject of several letters to Sir Henry Roscoe and 

 Dr. Tyndall. 



26 ABBEY PLACE, April 8, 1872. 



MY DEAR ROSCOE Many thanks for your kind letter 

 of welcome. My long rest has completely restored me. 

 As my doctor told me, I was sound, wind and limb, and 

 had merely worn myself out. I am not going to do that 

 again, and you see that I have got rid of the School 

 Board. It was an awful incubus ! 



Oddly enough I met the Ashtons in the Vatican, and 

 heard about your perplexities touching Oxford. I should 

 have advised you to do as you have done. I think that 

 you have a great piece of work to do at Owens College, 

 and that you will do it. If you had gone to Oxford you 

 would have sacrificed all the momentum you have gained 

 in Manchester ; and would have had to begin de novo, 

 among conditions which, I imagine, it is very hard for 

 a non-University man to appreciate and adjust him- 

 self to. 



I like the look of the " Primers " (of which Macmillan 

 has sent me copies to-day) very much, and shall buckle 

 to at mine as soon as possible. I am very glad you did 



