338 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP, xiv 



the Council and the Society are, so far as I am concerned, 

 perfectly free to put somebody else in my place next 

 November. All I stipulate for is that my successor shall 

 be a man of science. 



I will not, if I can help it, allow the chair of the 

 Royal Society to become the appanage of rich men, or have 

 the noble old Society exploited by enterprising commercial 

 gents who make their profit out of the application of 

 science. 



Mrs. President was not pleased quite the contrary 

 but she is mollified by the kindly expressions, public and 

 private, which have received the election. 



And there are none which we both value more than 

 yours. (I see I said that before, but I can't say it too 

 often.) Ever yours very faithfully, 



T. H. HUXLEY. 



HINDHEAD, July 8, 1883. 



MY DEAR FLOWER Many thanks for your comforting 

 letter. When I am fairly committed to anything I 

 generally have a cold fit and your judgment that I 

 have done right is " grateful and comforting " like Epps' 

 Cocoa. It is not so much work as distraction that is 

 involved ; and though it may put a stop to my purely 

 scientific work for a while, I don't know that I could be 

 better employed in the interests of science than in trying 

 to keep the Royal Society straight. 



My wife was very much against it at first and indeed 

 when I was first spoken to I declared that I would not 

 go on after next St. Andrew's Day.' But a good deal of 

 pressure was brought to bear by some of my friends, and 

 if the Fellows don't turn me out I shall say with 

 MacMahon, "J'y suis et j'y reste." Ever yours very 

 faithfully T. H. HUXLEY. 



We have ran down here for a day, but are back 

 to-morrow. 



