My dear Prestwich,
Many thanks for your letter. Your consent to become our President for the next period will give as unfeigned satisfaction to the whole body of the Society as it does to me and your other personal friends.
I have looked upon the affair as settled since our last talk, and a very great relief it has been to my mind.
There is no doubt public-dinner speaking (and indeed all public speaking) is nervous work. I funk horribly, though I never get the least credit for it. But it is like swimming, the worst of it is in the first plunge; and after you have taken your "header" it's not so bad (just like matrimony, by the way; only don't be so mean as to go and tell a certain lady I said so, because I want to stand well in her books.)
Of course you may command me in all ways in which I can possibly be of use. But as one of the chiefs of the Society, and personally and scientifically popular with the whole body, you start with an immense advantage over me, and will find no difficulties before you.
We will consider this business formally settled, and I shall speak of it officially.
Ever yours very faithfully,
T.H. Huxley.
[I cannot place the following letter to Matthew Arnold with certainty, but it must have been written about this period. (The most probable date being 1869, for on July 1 of that year he dined with Matthew Arnold at Harrow.) Everyone will sympathise with the situation:—]
26 Abbey Place, July 8.