ARTIFICIAL OYSTER CULTURE. I 1 49 



guished friend, Professor Huxley, as the head of a commis- 

 sion that went to Scotland to inquire into what was the 

 practical application of the laws then in force for the 

 regulations of that kind of fisheries, and on the report of 

 that distinguished Professor, very considerable alterations 

 were made in the laws then in force." 



Really it was very kind of the Government to confer 

 such honour upon Professor Huxley ; possibly they did so 

 because they could not find any one better suited for their 

 object ; and, as to making " very considerable alterations 

 in the laws then in force," on the Professor's report, surely 

 there are no thanks due to the Government for that ; for, 

 whatever beneficial alterations there were at the time 

 alluded to, the public's gratitude is due to Professor 

 Huxley and not to the Government ; and, moreover, 

 what did the Government appoint him head of the com- 

 mission for, if they did not mean to go by his advice ? 



As His Grace the Duke of Argyll has (in the pam- 

 phlet relative to Professor Lankester) advanced no better 

 plea in favour of the Government than the above, it is a 

 pity he alluded to the Government at all. But, in order to 

 make good my charge, I must have a basis more solid than 

 this. Yes, I feel I cannot be too serious in the assertion 

 of the principle that science pursues truth for its own 

 sake ; that scientific men delight in the ascertainment of 

 truth for its own sake ; and feeling this I scorn to show, or 

 even feel, the least triumph at the too easy puffing away of 

 the flimsy verbality of a mere platform apology for govern- 

 mental inefficiency. And so, for that reason alone, as 

 Hamlet says, 



I'll have grounds 



More relative than this : 

 whereon, following the impulsive thought, I refer the 



