1887 TECHNICAL EDUCATION jgj 



be varnished into a simulacrum of success — to become eventually 

 a ghost like the Albert Hall or revive as a tea garden. 



The following letter also touches upon the function of 

 the Institute from the commercial side : — 



4 Marlborough Place, Feb. 20, 1887. 



My dear Donnelly — Mr. Law's suggestion gives admirable 

 definition to the notions that were floating in my mind when I 

 wrote in my letter to the Times, that I imagined the Institute 

 would be a " place in which the fullest stores of industrial 

 knowledge would be made accessible to the public." A man of 

 business who wants to know anything about the prospects of 

 trade with say, Boorioboola-gha (vide Bleak House) ought to 

 be able to look into the Institute and find there somebody, who 

 will at once fish out for him among the documents in the place 

 all that is known about Boorioboola. 



But a Commer:ial Intelligence Department is not all that is 

 wanted, vide valuable letter aforesaid. 



I hope your appetite for the breakfast was none the worse 

 for last night's doings — mine was rather improved, but I am 

 dog-tired. — Ever yours very faithfully, 



T. H. Huxley. 



I return Miss 's note. She evidently thinks my cage is 



labelled " These animals bite." 



Later in the year, the following letters show him con- 

 tinuing the campaign. But an attack of pleurisy, which 

 began the very day of the Jubilee, prevented him from 

 coming to speak at a meeting upon Technical Education. 

 In the autumn, however, he spoke on the subject at Man- 

 chester, and had the satisfaction of seeing the city " go 

 solid," as he expressed it, for technical education. The cir- 

 cumstances of this visit are given later. 



4 Marlborough Place, N.W., May 1, 1SS7. 

 My dear Roscoe — I met Lord Hartington at the Academy 

 Dinner last night and took the opportunity of urging upon him 

 the importance of following up his technical education speech. 

 He told me he had been in communication with you about the 

 matter, and he seemed to me to be very well disposed to your 

 plans. 



