I told him that I had had the audacity to approach you on the subject of the Royal Society.  He heartily approved, and expressed the strongest opinion that unless you had some insuperable objection you ought to yield.  All of us who belong to the R.S. have but one wish, which is that it should stand before the public as containing all that is best and worthiest in British Science.  As long as men like you stand aloof, that cannot be said.  Lately we have been exposed to some very ill-natured attacks:  we have been told that we are professional, and not discoverers.  Well, this is all the more reason for your not holding aloof from us.  I wish you would think it over again.  Huxley went the length of saying that to him it seemed a plain duty.  But this is language I do not like to use.

As to attending the meetings or taking part in the work of the Society, that is immaterial.  Darwin never did either, though he did once come to one of the evening receptions, and enjoyed it immensely.

In writing as I do I am not merely expressing my own opinions, but those of many others of my own standing who are keenly interested in the matter.

It is not a great matter to ask.  I have the certificate ready.  You have but to say the word.  You will be put to no trouble or pecuniary responsibility.  That my father-in-law arranged, long ago.

To dissociate yourself from the R.S. really amounts nowadays to doing it an injury.  And I am sure you do not wish that.

With all good wishes, believe me yours sincerely,

W.T.  THISELTON-DYER.

* * * * *

TO SIR W.T.  THISELTON-DYER

Parkstone, Dorset.  January 17, 1893.

Dear Mr. Thiselton-Dyer,—­I have been rather unwell myself the last few days or should have answered your very kind letter sooner.  I feel really overpowered.  I cannot understand why you or anyone should care about my being an F.R.S., because I have really done so little of what is usually considered scientific work to deserve it.  I have for many years felt almost ashamed of the amount of reputation and honour that has been awarded me.  I can understand the general public thinking too highly of me, because I know that I have the power of clear exposition, and, I think, also, of logical reasoning.  But all the work I have done is more or less amateurish and founded almost wholly on other men’s observations; and I always feel myself dreadfully inferior to men like Sir J. Hooker, Huxley, Flower, and scores of younger men who have extensive knowledge of whole departments of biology of which I am totally ignorant.  I do not wish, however, to be thought ungrateful for the many honours that have been given me by the Royal and other Societies, and will therefore place myself entirely in your hands as regards my election to the F.R.S.