126 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP, v 



fresh again by dinner-time. I dined with the Senators 

 at a hotel in the town, and of course had to make a 

 speech or two. However I cut all that as fast as I 

 could. They were all very apologetic for the row the 

 students made. After the dinner one of the Professors 

 came to ask me if I would have any objection to attend 

 service in the College Chapel on Sunday, as the students 

 would like it. I said I was quite ready to do anything 

 it was customary for the Rector to do, and so this 

 morning in half an hour's time I shall be enduring the 

 pains and penalties of a Presbyterian service. 



There was to have been another meeting of the 

 University Court yesterday, but the Principal was 

 suffering so much from an affection of the lungs that 

 I adjourned the meeting till to-morrow. Did I tell 

 you that I carried all my resolutions about improving 

 the medical curriculum ? Fact, though greatly to my 

 astonishment. To-morrow we go in for some reforms in 

 the arts curriculum, and I expect that the job will be 

 tougher. 



I send you a couple of papers Scotsman, with a very 

 good leading article, and the Aberdeen Herald also with 

 a leading article, which is as much favourable as was to 

 be expected. . . . The Websters are making me promise 

 to bring you and one of the children here next autumn. 

 They are wonderfully kind people. 



March 2. My work here finishes to-day. There is 

 a meeting of the Council at one o'clock, and before that 

 I am to go and look over laboratories and collections 

 with sundry Professors. Then there is the supper at 

 half-past eight and the inevitable speeches, for which I 

 am not in the least inclined at present. I went officially 

 to the College Chapel yesterday, and went through a 

 Presbyterian service for the first time in my life. May 

 it be the last ! 



Then to lunch at Professor Struthers' and back here 

 for a small dinner-party. I am standing it all well, for 



