1884 LETTER TO SIR HENRY ROSCOE y l 



ers, which, he considered, needed more careful supervision 

 than he was able to give, and meditated retiring from part 

 at least of his main duties, when he was ordered abroad 

 at a moment's notice for first one, then another, and yet a 

 third period of two months. But he did not definitely re- 

 tire until this rest had proved ineffectual to fit him again 

 for active work. 



The President of the Royal Society is, as mentioned 

 above, an ex officio Trustee of the British Museum, so that 

 now, as again in 1888, circumstances at length brought 

 about the state of affairs which Huxley had once indicated — 

 half-jestingly — to Robert Lowe, who inquired of him what 

 would be the best course to adopt with respect to the Natural 

 History collections of the British Museum : — " Make me a 

 Trustee and Flower director." At this moment, the ques- 

 tion of an official residence for the Director of the Natural 

 History Museum was under discussion with the Treasury, 

 and he writes : — 



Feb. 29, 1884. 

 My dear Flower — I am particularly glad to hear your news. 

 " Ville qui parle et femme qui ecoute se rendent," says the 

 wicked proverb — and it is true of Chancellors of the Exchequer. 

 —Ever yours very faithfully, T _ H HuxLEy _ 



A pendent to this is a letter of congratulation to Sir 

 Henry Roscoe on his knighthood : — 



Science and Art Department, S.K., 

 July 7, 1884. 



My dear Roscoe — I am very glad to see that the Govern- 

 ment has had the grace to make some acknowledgment of their 

 obligation to you, and I wish you and " my lady " long enjoy- 

 ment of your honours. I don't know if you are gazetted yet, 

 so I don't indicate them outside. — Ever yours very faithfully, 



T. H. Huxley. 



PS. — I wrote some weeks ago to the Secretary of the Na- 

 tional Association of Science Teachers to say that I must give 

 up the Presidency. I had come to the conclusion that the Asso- 

 ciation wants sharp looking after, and that I can't undertake 

 that business. 



