CREATED A PRIVY COUNCILLOR 



343 



to congratulations, I place first the one to Sir M. Foster, 

 which gives the fullest account of the affair. 



Con-y-Gedal Hotel, Barmouth, Aug, 23, 1892. 



My dear Foster — I am very glad you think I have done 

 rightly about the P.C. ; but in fact I could hardly help myself. 



Years and years ago I was talking to Donnelly about these 

 things, and told him that so far as myself was concerned, I 

 would have nothing to do with official decorations — didn't object 

 to other people having them, especially heads of offices, like 

 Hooker and Flower — but preferred to keep clear myself. But 

 I added that there was one thing I did not mind telling him, 

 because no English Government would ever act upon my opinion 

 — and that was that the P.C. was a fit and proper recognition 

 for science and letters. I have no doubt that he has kept this 

 in mind ever since — in fact Lord Salisbury's letter (which was 

 very handsome) showed he had been told of my obiter dictum. 

 Donnelly was the first channel of inquiry whether I would ac- 

 cept, and was very strong that I should. 



So you see if I had wished to refuse it, it would have been 

 difficult and ungracious. But, on the whole, I thought the 

 precedent good. Playfair tells me he tried to get it done in the 

 case of Faraday and Babbage thirty years ago, and the thing 

 broke down. Moreover a wicked sense of the comedy of ad- 

 vancing such a pernicious heretic, helped a good deal. 



The worst of it is, I have just had a summons to go to 

 Osborne on Thursday and it is as much as I shall be able 

 to do. 



We have been in South Wales, in the neighbourhood of 

 the Colliers, and are on our way to the Wallers for the Festival 

 week at Gloucester. We hope to get back to Eastbourne in the 

 latter half of September and find the house clean swept and 

 garnished. After that/by the way, it is not nice to say that we 

 shall hope to have a visit from Mrs. Foster and you. 



With our love to you both — Ever yours, 



T. H. Huxley. 



I am glad you are resting, but oh, why another Congress ! 



Hodeslea, Eastbourne, June 21, 1892. 



My dear Donnelly — You have been and done me at last, 

 you betrayer of confidence. This is what comes of confiding 

 one's pet weakness to a bosom-friend ! 



But I can't deny my own words, or the accuracy of your 



