8 AUTOBIOGRAPHY 



years afterwards, I detested the trouble of writing, 

 and would take no pains over it. 



It was in the early spring of 1846, that, having 

 finished my obligatory medical studies and passed 

 the first M.D. examination at the London University, 

 though I was still too young to qualify at the Col- 

 lege of Surgeons, I was talking to a fellow-student 

 (the present eminent physician, Sir Joseph Fayrer), 

 and wondering what I should do to meet the impera- 

 tive necessity for earning my own bread, when my 

 friend suggested that I should write to Sir William 

 Burnett, at that time Director-General for the Medical 

 Service of the Navy, for an appointment. I thought 

 this rather a strong thing to do, as Sir William was 

 personally unknown to me, but my cheery friend 

 would not listen to my scruples, so I went to my lodg- 

 ings and wrote the best letter I could devise. A few 

 days afterwards I received the usual official circular 

 acknowledgment, but at the bottom there was written 

 an instruction to call at Somerset House on such a 

 day. I thought that looked like business, so at the ap- 

 pointed time I called and sent in my card, while I 

 waited in Sir William's ante-room. He was a tall, 

 shrewd-looking old gentleman, with a broad Scotch 

 accent and I think I see him now as he entered with 

 my card in his hand. The first thing he did was to re- 

 turn it, with the frugal reminder that I should prob- 

 ably find it useful on some other occasion. The second 

 was to ask whether I was an Irishman. I suppose 

 the air of modesty about my appeal must have struck 

 him. I satisfied the Director-General that I was Eng- 

 glish to the backbone, and he made some inquiries 

 as to my student career, finally desiring me to hold 

 myself ready for examination. Having passed this, 



