1881 APPOINTED FISHERY INSPECTOR 291 



yesterday. As he had re-opened the question, of course I 

 felt justified in stating all the pros and cons of the case 

 as personal to myself and my rather complicated official 

 position. . . . He entered into the affair with a warmth 

 and readiness which very agreeably surprised me, and he 

 proposes making such arrangements as will not oblige me 

 to have anything to do with the weirs or the actual 

 inspection. Under these circumstances the post would be 

 lovely if I can hold it along with the other things. 

 And of his own motion the Home Secretary is going to 

 write to Lord Spencer about it to see if he cannot carry 

 the whole thing through. 



If this could be managed, I could get great things done 

 in the matter of fish culture and fish diseases at South 

 Kensington, if poor dear X.'s rattle trappery could be 

 turned to proper account, without in any way interfering 

 with the work of the School. 



At any rate, my book stands not to lose, and may win 

 the innocence of the dove is not always divorced from 

 the wisdom of the sarpent. [Sketch of the " Sarpent."] 



To LORD FARRER 



4 MARLBOROUGH PLACE, 

 Jan. 18, 1881. 



MY DEAR FARRER I have waited a day or two before 

 thanking you for your very kind letter, in the hope that 

 I might be able to speak as one knowing where he is. 



But as I am still, in an official sense, nowhere, I will 

 not delay any longer. 



I had never thought of the post, but the Home 

 Secretary offered it to me in a very kind and considerate 

 manner, and after some hesitation I accepted it. But 

 some adjustment had to be made between my master, the 

 Lord President, and the Treasury ; and although every- 

 body seems disposed to be very good to me, the business 



