1873 LETTER TO TYNDALL 99 



operations in my garden, and is trying to get something 

 out of me by Chancery proceedings. Fancy finding myself 

 a defendant in Chancery ! 



It is particularly hard on me, as I have been especially 

 careful to have nothing done without Burton's sanction 

 and assurance that I was quite safe in law ; and I would 

 have given up anything [rather] than have got into 

 bother of this kind. But " sich is life." 



You seem to have been making a Royal Progress in 

 Yankee-land. We have been uncommonly tickled with 

 some of the reports of your lectures which reached us, 

 especially with that which spoke of your having "a 

 strong English accent." 



The loss of your assistant seems to have been the only 

 deduction to be made from your success. I am afraid 

 you must have felt it much in all ways. 



" My Lord " received your telegram only after the 

 business of " securing Hirst " was done. That is one of 

 the bright spots in a bad year for me. Goschen consulted 

 Spottiswoode and me independently about the headship 

 of the new Naval Colleg ;, and was naturally considerably 

 surprised by the fact that we coincided in recommending 

 Hirst. . . . The upshot was that Goschen asked me to 

 communicate with Hirst and see if he would be disposed 

 to accept the offer. So I did, and found to my great 

 satisfaction that Hirst took to the notion very kindly. 

 I am sure he is the very best man for the post to be met 

 with in the three kingdoms, having that rare combina- 

 tion of qualities by which he gets on with all manner of 

 men, and singularly attracts young fellows. He will not 

 only do his duty, but be beloved for doing it, which is 

 what few people can compass. 



I have little news to give you. The tail of the 

 X. -Hooker storm is drifting over the scientific sty in the 

 shape of fresh attacks by Owen on Hooker. Hooker 

 answered the last angelically, and I hope they are 

 at an end. 



