334 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. XIV 



Huxley was an active member; the Clothworkers, 

 in whose schools he distributed the prizes this year ; 

 and, not least, the Salters, who presented him with 

 their freedom on November 13. Their master, Mr. 

 J. W. Clark, writing in August, after Huxley had 

 accepted their proposal, says: "I think you must 

 admit that the City Companies have yielded liberally 

 to the gentle compression you have exercised on them. 

 So far from helping you to act the traitor, we 

 propose to legitimise your claim for education, which 

 several of us shall be willing to unite with you in 

 promoting" (see pp. 219, 220). 



The crowning addition, however, to Huxley's 

 official work was the Presidency of the Royal Society. 

 He had resigned the Secretaryship in 1880, after 

 holding office for nine years under three Presidents 

 Airy, Hooker, and Spottiswoode. Spottiswoode, 

 like Hooker, was a member of the x Club, and was 

 regarded with great affection and respect by Huxley, 

 who in 1887 wrote of him to Mr. John Morley : 



It is quite absurd you don't know Spottiswoode, and 

 I shall do both him and you a good turn by bringing you 

 together. He is one of my best friends, and comes under 

 the Al class of " people with whom you may go tiger- 

 hunting." 



On June 7, writing to Professor (afterwards Sir 

 E.) Frankland, he says : 



You will have heard that Spottiswoode is seriously ill 

 The physicians suspect typhoid, but are not quite certain. 

 I called this morning, and hear that he remains much as 



