158 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY C HAP t VIII 



spoken to me of the possibility of his being called away 

 long ago, and had asked if I would take his place, to 

 which, of course, I assented, but the whole affair was so 

 uncertain that I never in any way reckoned upon it. 

 Even at last I did not know on the Monday whether I 

 was to go on for him on the Friday or not However, 

 he did go after giving two lectures, and on Friday the 

 25th May I took his lecture, and I have been going on 

 ever since, twice a week on Mondays and Fridays. 

 Called upon so very suddenly to give a course of some 

 six-and-twenty lectures, I find it very hard work, but I 

 like it and I never was in better health. 



On July 20, this temporary work, which he had 

 undertaken as the friend of Forbes, was exchanged 

 for one of the permanent lectureships formerly held 

 by the latter. A hundred a year for twenty-six 

 lectures was not affluence ; it would have suited him 

 better to have had twice the work and twice the 

 pay. But it was his crossing of the Rubicon, and, 

 strangely enough, no sooner had he gained this 

 success than it was doubled. 



July 30, 1854. 



I was appointed yesterday to a post of 200 a year. 

 It has all come about in the strangest way. I told you 

 how my friend Forbes had been suddenly called away to 

 Edinburgh, and that I had suddenly taken his duties 

 sharp work it has been I can tell you these summer 

 months, but it is over and done satisfactorily. Forbes 

 got 500 a year, 200 for a double lectureship, 300 

 for another office. I took one of the lectureships, which 

 would have given me 100 a year only, and another 

 man was to have the second lectureship and the other 

 office in question. It was so completely settled a week 



