IX APPOINTED DIRECTOR 125 



" Privatissime." 



My dear Flower — I was very glad to get your letter, and 

 now see my way more clearly. 



I have just come from a meeting of the Finance Committee 

 of the British Museum, and can report that affairs are marching. 

 Owen has readily assented to the proposal of the Trustees, and 

 the vacancy will soon be declared. 



Next I broached the question of the house for the Superin- 

 tendent, and this was so well received that I have no doubt that 

 the standing committee to whom we report will urge strongly on 

 the Treasury the propriety of giving one — that is, of building one. 



They have already fought the battle for the keepers, and the 

 Treasury obstinately refused ; but I do not despair on that ground. 

 It would be everything to get Childers' mind properly impressed 

 on this subject, but unfortunately I have never met him, though 

 I believe I know every other member of the Government. 



Unfortunately I do not drink beer, or I would go so far as to 

 bet you a pint that you are in office in three months. 



The formal appointment as Director was not 

 sanctioned until the close of June 1884, some six 

 months after Huxley wrote ; but he did not " speak 

 without the book," to quote one of his own phrases^ 

 as Flower actually began his work at the Natural 

 History Museum on March 14, 1884. 



Leave for the change of title from Superintendent 

 to Director was obtained from the Trustees at a 

 meeting in March. But Treasury sanction had to 

 be obtained not only for this, but for the increase of 

 the stipend from ;^8oo to ;^I400, at which it was 

 ultimately fixed. It may be added that Sir Edward 

 Bond was among the first to urge that the post 

 should be properly paid, though a less zealous or 

 less generous nature might have feared that the 



