i853 ADVICE TO TYNDALL 1 25 



and it would seem that there is tio room for you this year. How- 

 ever, I must try and learn more about this. 



Under these circumstances the London Institution looks 

 tempting. I have been talking over the matter with Forbes, 

 whose advice I look upon as first-rate in all these things, and 

 he is decidedly of the opinion that you should take the London 

 Institution if it is ofifered you. He says that lecturing there 

 and lecturing at other Institutions, and writing, you could with 

 certainty make more than you at present receive, and that you 

 would have the command of a capital laboratory and plenty of 

 time. 



Then as to position — of which I was doubtful — it appears 

 that Grove has made it a good one. 



It is of great importance to look to this point in London — to 

 be unshackled by anything that may prevent you taking the 

 highest places, and it was only my fear on this head that made 

 me advise you to hesitate about the London Institution. More 

 consideration leads me to say, take that, if it will bring you up 

 to London at once, so that you may hammer your reputation 

 while it is hot. 



However, consider all these things well, and don't be hasty. 

 I will keep eyes and ears open and inform you accordingly. 

 Write to me if there is anything you want done, supposing 

 always there is nobody who will do it better — which is im- 

 probable. — Ever yours, T. H. Huxley. 



But this year of victory was not to pass away without 

 one last blow from fate. On November 18, Edward Forbes, 

 the man in whom Huxley had found a true friend and 

 helper, inspired by the same ideals of truth and sincerity 

 as himself, died suddenly at Edinburgh. The strong but 

 delicate ties that united them were based not merely upon 

 intellectual affinity, but upon the deeper moral kinship of 

 two strong characters, where each subordinated interest to 

 ideal, and treated others by the measure of his own self- 

 respect. As early as March 1851 he had written: — 



I wish you knew my friend Prof. Forbes. He is the best 

 creature you can imagine, and helps me in all manner of ways. 

 A man of very great knowledge, he is wholly free from pedantry 

 and jealousy, the two besetting sins of literary and scientific 

 men. Up to his eyes in work, he never grudges his time if it 

 is to help a friend. He is one of the few men I have ever met 



