PREFACE. ix 



On reaching England, however, I found not only that the Royal Society had thought my 

 Memoir on the Medusae worthy of publication, but helping hands were stretched out 

 to me on all sides; and among the men of science, I met with many generous friends 

 whose sympathy and appreciation were bestowed in a measure far beyond my deserts. Among 

 these, the genial and noble-minded Edward Forbes supported me with all that energy which 

 he was wont to throw into his advocacy of the cause of a young man ; and now that I 

 have succeeded (though, alas ! not replaced) him in the professorial chair he then held, 

 and have some personal experience of an analogous variety of occupations and weight 

 of responsibilities, I cannot reflect without emotion on the patient attention which he 

 bestowed upon me, and the self-sacrificing zeal with which he exerted all his " power, amity, 

 and authority" in my favour. 



On reviewing the materials which I had collected with this experienced friend, it 

 seemed that some of my work might fitly be sent in the form of papers to the learned 

 societies; while, on the other hand, the more copious observations upon the Medusida, 

 Calycophoridce, and Phi/sopkorida, might better be published in a separate form ; and 

 Forbes and other friends of weight were of opinion that the work had sufficient value 

 to justify the Government in aiding its publication. 



We were the more readily led to hope for this aid, as, in the year 1849, the Lords 

 of the Admiralty had caused a Manual of Scientific Inquiry to be published, and had 

 prefixed to it a Memorandum containing the enlightened and liberal expressions and promises 

 quoted at the head of these pages. And it will be observed that their Lordships' distinct 

 promise of encouragement to naval officers who should do good work was wholly 

 irrespective and independent of any other aid given by the Government to Science. 



Clearly, therefore, supposing my work to have any value — and in favour of this suppo- 

 sition I had all sorts of high testimony — I had a claim upon the Admiralty for aid in bringing 

 it out, and a simple person might have imagined that that claim would be strengthened by 

 being the first that had been made (to my knowledge) since the publication of the Minute. 



I do not know that I can accuse their Lordships of refusing my application, for they 

 took the simpler course of rendering it impossible 1 should make one. Before my ship was 

 paid off, I applied in due form, through my commanding officer, for a simple permission to 

 pubhsh ; and, when one thinks of the Memorandum, there is a touch of humour about the 

 reply which he received : " I have been commanded to convey to you their Lordships' full 



sanction to his (my) so doing {i. e. publishing) But I have to add that 



their Lordships will not allow any charge to be made upon the public towai*ds the expense." 

 Nevertheless, the writer hopes that " he will produce a work alike creditable to himself, to 

 his late Captain by whom he was selected for it, and to Her Majesty's Service." 



