258 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. X 



The final cause of boys is to catch something or other. 

 I trust that yours is demeasling himself properly. Ever 

 yours very faithfully, T. H. HUXLEY 



4 MARLBOROUGH PLACE, 

 Dec. 1878. 



MY DEAR TYNDALL I consider your saying the other 

 evening that you would see " any one else d d first," 

 before you would assent to the little proposal I made to 

 you, as the most distinct and binding acceptance you are 

 capable of. You have nothing else to swear by, and so 

 you swear at everybody but me when you want to pledge 

 yourself. 



It will release me of an immense difficulty if you will 

 undertake R Boyle and the Royal Society (which of course 

 includes Hooke) ; and the subject is a capital one. 



The book should not exceed about 200 pages, and you 

 need not be ready before this time next year. There 

 could not be a more refreshing piece of work just to 

 enliven the dolce far niente of the Bel Alp. (That is 

 quite a la Knowles, and I begin to think I have some 

 faculty as an editor.) , 



Settle your own terms with Macmillan. They will 

 be as joyful as I shall be to know you are going to take 

 part in the enterprise. Ever yours faithfully, 



T. H. HUXLEY. 



4 MARLBOROUGH PLACE, 

 Dec. 81, 1878. 



MY DEAR TYNDALL-^- 1 would sooner have your Boyle, 

 however long we may have to wait for it, than anybody 

 else's d d simmer. (Now that's a "goak," and you 

 must ask Mrs. Tyndall to explain it to you.) 



Two years will I give you from this blessed New 

 Year's eve, 1878, and if it isn't 'done on New Year's Day 

 1881 you shall not be admitted to the company of the 

 blessed, but your dinner shall be sent to you between 



