1863 PRESSURE OF WORK 267 



Not that I mean for a moment to say that prayer is illogical, 

 for if the whole universe is ruled by fixed laws it is just as 

 logically absurd for me to ask you to answer this letter as to 

 ask the Almighty to alter the weather. The whole argument is 

 an " old foe with a new face," the freedom and necessity ques- 

 tion over again. 



If I were to write about the question I should have to 

 develop all this side of the problem, and then having shown 

 that logic, as always happens when it is carried to extremes, 

 leaves us bombinantes in vacuo, I should appeal to experience to 

 show that prayers of this sort are not answered, and to science 

 to prove that if they were they would do a great deal of harm. 



But you know this would never do for the atmosphere of 

 Fraser. It would be much better suited for an article in my 

 favourite organ, the wicked Westminster. 



However, to say truth, I do not see how I am to undertake 

 anything fresh just at present. I have promised an article for 

 Macmillan ages ago ; and Masson scowls at me whenever we 

 meet. I am afraid to go through the Albany lest Cook should 

 demand certain reviews of books which have been long in my 

 hands. I am just completing a long memoir for the Linnean 

 Society; a monograph on certain fossil reptiles must be finished 

 before the new year. My lectures have begun, and there is a 

 certain " Manual " looming in the background. And to crown 

 all, these late events * have given me such a wrench that I feel 

 I must be prudent. 



The following reference to Robert Lowe, afterwards 

 Lord Sherbrooke, has a quasi-prophetic interest: — 



May 7. — Dined at the Smiths' f last night. Lowe was to 

 have been there, but had a dinner-party of his own. ... I have 

 come to the conviction that our friend Bob is a most admirable, 

 well-judging statesman, for he says I am the only man fit to 

 be at the head of the British Museum, X and that if he had his 

 way he would put me there. 



Years afterwards, on Sir R. Owen's retirement, he was 

 offered the post, but declined it, as he greatly disliked the 

 kind of work. At the same time, he pointed out to the 



* The death of his brother. 



f Dr. (afterwards Sir William) Smith, of dictionary fame. 



X i.e. of the Natural History Collections. 



