My life : a record of events and opinions - Wallace-online.org

244 MY LIFEget you to deal with Lord Salisbury, Ihave decidedto do it myself, having been finally exasperated intodoing it by this honour paid to his address in France—the presentation of a translation to the FrenchAcademy. The impression produced upon somemillions of people in England cannot be allowed tobe thus further confirmed without protest." He thenasked me for some references, which I sent him, andhis criticism of Lord Salisbury duly appeared, andwas thoroughly well done, so that I had no reason toregret not having undertaken it myself. This wasthe latest letter I received from him ; but during hislast illness my wife, being in Brighton, called to makeinquiries after his health, and left our cards, and Ireceived a kindly expressed card in reply, written byhis amanuensis, but signed with his own initials.is dated November 28, 1903, ten days before hisdeath.Among his intimate friends, Herbert Spencer wasalways interesting from the often unexpected way inwhich he would apply the principles of evolution tothe commonest topics of conversation, and he wasalways ready to take part in any social amusement.He once or twice honoured me by coming to informalmeetings of friends at my little house in St. Mark'sCrescent, and I also met him at Sir John Lubbock'svery pleasant week-end visits, and also at Huxley's,in St. John's Wood. Once I remember dining informallywith Huxley, the only other guests beingTyndall and Herbert Spencer. The latter appearedin a dress-coat, whereupon Huxley and Tyndallchaffed him, as setting a bad example, and of beinguntrue to his principles, quoting his Essay on" Manners and Fashion," but all with the most goodhumouredbanter. Spencer took it in good part, andIt