342 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. XIV 



devils, which have been more frequent of late than they 

 should be in holiday time. 



Now, will you turn all this over in your mind ? 

 Perhaps you might talk it over with Stokes. 



Of course I am very sensible of the honour of being 

 P.RS., but I should be much more sensible of the dis- 

 honour of being in that place by a fluke, or in any other 

 way, than by the free choice of the Council and Society. 



In fact I am inclined to think that I am morbidly 

 sensitive on the last point ; and so, instead of acting on 

 my own impulse, as I have been tempted to do, I submit 

 myself to your worship's wisdom. 



I am not sure that I should not have been wiser if I 

 had stuck to my original intention of holding office only 

 till St. Andrew's Day. Ever yours very faithfully, 



T. H. HUXLEY. 



SECRETARY OF STATE, HOME DEPARTMENT, 

 Oct. 3, 1883. 



MY DEAR FOSTER There was an Irish bricklayer who 

 once bet a hodman he would not carry him up to the top 

 of an exceeding high ladder in his hod. The hodman did 

 it, but Paddy said, " I had great hopes, now, ye'd let me 

 fall just about six rounds from the top." 



I told the story before when I was up for the School 

 Board, but it is so applicable to the present case that I 

 can't help coming out with it again. 



If you, dear good hodmen, would have but let me 

 faU! 



However, as the thing is to be, it is very pleasant to 

 find Evans and Williamson and you so hearty in the 

 process of elevation, and in spite of blue-devils I will do 

 my best to " do my duty in the state of life I'm called to." 



But I believe you never had the advantage of learning 

 the Church Catechism. 



If there is any good in what is done you certainly 

 deserve the credit of it, for nothing but your letter 



