224 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. XII 



at Aberdeen, leaving his wife and the three children 

 at Aberdour, on the Fifeshire coast. 



From Aberdeen, where Prince Albert was President 

 of the Association, Huxley writes on September 

 15: 



Owen's brief address on giving up the presidential 

 chair was exceedingly good. ... I shall be worked like 

 a horse here. There are all sorts of new materials from 

 Elgin, besides other things, and I daresay I shall have to 

 speak frequently. In point of attendance and money 

 this is the best meeting the Association ever had. In 

 point of science, we shall see. . . . Tyndall has accepted 

 the Physical chair with us, at which I am greatly de- 

 lighted. 



In this connection the following letter to Tyndall 

 is interesting : 



ABERDOUR, FIFK, N.B. 

 September 5, 1859. 



MY DEAR TYNDALL I met Faraday on Loch Lomond 

 yesterday, and learned from him that you had returned, 

 whereby you are a great sinner for not having written to 

 me. Faraday told me you were all sound, wind and 

 limb, and had carried out your object, which was good 

 to hear. 



Have you had any letter from Sir Roderick 1 If not, 

 pray call in Jenny n Street and see Reeks l as soon as 

 possible. 



The thing I have been hoping for for years past has 

 come about, Stokes having resigned the Physical Chair 

 in our place, in consequence of his appointment to the 

 Cambridge University Commission. This unfortunately 

 occurred only after our last meeting for the session, and 



1 Mr. Trenham Reeks, who died in 1879, was Registrar of the 

 School of Mines, and Curator and Librarian of the Museum of 

 Practical Geology. 



