SENIORITY AND PROMOTION 



313 



Caetcris paribus, or with even approximate equality of quali- 

 fications, no doubt seniority ought to count; but it is mere ruin 

 to any service to let it interfere with the promotion of men of 

 marked superiority, especially in the case of offices which in- 

 volve much responsibility. 



I suppose as trustee I may requisition a copy of Woodward's 

 Catalogue. I should like to look a little more carefully at it. . . . 

 We are none the worse for our pleasant glimpse of the world 

 (and his wife) at your house; but I find that speechifying at 

 public dinners is one of the luxuries that I must utterly deny 

 myself. It will take me three weeks' quiet to get over my esca- 

 pade.— Ever yours very faithfully, T R HuxLEY 



