38 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap. J 



paper of a boy myself, and now I am an extremely tough oli 

 personage. . . . 



With our united kind regards to Mr. May and yourself- 



Ever yours very faithfully, *p jj Huxley. 



Perhaps if he had been able each year to carry out th 

 wish expressed in the following letter, which covered ai 

 introduction to Dr. Tyndall at his house on the Bel Alp, th 

 breakdown of 1883 might have been averted. 



4 Marlborough Place, London, N.W., 

 July 5 (1881?) 



My dear Skelton — It is a great deal more than I would sa; 

 for everybody, but I am sure Tyndall will be very much obligei 

 to me for making you known to him; and if you, insignifican 

 male creature, how very much more for the opportunity 

 knowing Mrs. Skelton ! 



For which last pretty speech I hope the lady will make 

 prettier curtsey. So go boldly across the Aletsch, and if the; 

 have a knocker (which I doubt), knock and it shall be openei 

 unto you. 



I wish I were going to be there too ; but Royal Commission 

 are a kind of endemic in my constitution, and I have a very bai 

 one just now.* 



With kind remembrances to Mrs. Skelton — Ever yours ver 



faithfull y. T. H. Huxley. 



The ecclesiastical sound of his new title of Dean of th 

 College of Science afforded him a good deal of amusemenl 

 He writes from Grasmere, where he had joined his famil 

 for the summer vacation : — 



Aug. 18, 1881. 



My dear Donnelly — I am astonished that you don't kno> 

 that a letter to a Dean ought to be addressed " The Very Revd. 

 I don't generally stand much upon etiquette, but when my sacre 

 character is touched I draw the line. 



We had athletics here yesterday, and as it was a lovely dai 

 all Cumberland and Westmoreland sent contingents to see th 

 fun. . . . 



* The Medical Acts Commission, 1881— 2, 



