180 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. VIII 



interests. And so I should have been still a candidate 

 for Edinburgh had not the Government here professed 

 themselves unwilling to lose my services, adding the 

 " material guarantee " of an addition to my income, 

 which, though by no means bringing it up to the point 

 of Edinburgh, will still enable me (das heisst " us ") to 

 ' live comfortably here. 



I must renounce the "pomps and vanities," but all 

 those other " lusts of the flesh " which may beseem a 

 gentleman may be reasonably gratified. 



Don't you think I have been wise in my Hercules 

 choice ? After all I don't lay claim to any great merit, 

 seeing it was anything but certain I should get Edinburgh. 



The best of all is that I have every reason to believe 

 that Government will carry out my scheme for a coast 

 survey, so happily and pleasantly begun at Tenby last 

 year. 



The final arrangements are almost complete, and I 

 believe you may make up your mind to have four 

 months of me next year. Tenby shall be immortalised 

 and Jenkyn 1 converted into a philosopher. By the way, 

 I think the best way would be to retain the shells till I 

 come. My main purpose is to have in them a catalogue 

 of what Tenby affords. 



Pray give my kind remembrances to Mrs. Dyster, 

 and believe me, ever yours, T. H. HUXLEY. 



April 1, 1855. 



MY DEAR DYSTER By all that's good, your last note, 

 which lies before me, has date a month ago. I looked at 

 it just now, and became an April fool on the instant 



All the winds of March, however, took their course 

 through my thorax and eventuated in lectures. At least 

 that is all the account I can give to myself of the time, 



1 Jenkyn was employed to collect shells, etc., at Tenby. He 

 is often alluded to as " the Professor. " 



