2o6 Thomas Henry Muxlcy 



posts Huxley was repeatedl}' called. He served on the 

 following Conunissioiis : i. Roj-al Commission on the 

 Operation of Acts relating to Trawling for Herrings on 

 the Coast of Scotland, 1862. 2. Royal Commission to 

 Knqnire into the Sea Fisheries of the United Kingdom, 

 1864-65. 3. Commission on the Royal College of 

 Science for Ireland, 1866. 4. Commission on Science 

 and Art Instruction in Ireland, 1868. 5. Royal Com- 

 mission on the Administration and Operation of the 

 Contagious Diseases Acts, 1870-71. 6. Royal Com- 

 mission on Scientific Instruction and the Advancement 

 of Science, 1870-75. 7. Royal Commission on the 

 Practice of Subjecting Live Animals to Experiments 

 for Scientific Purposes, 1876. 8. Royal Commission 

 to Enquire into the Universities of Scotland, 1876-78. 

 9. Royal Commission on the Medical Acts, 1881-82. 

 ID. Royal Commission on Trawl, Net, and Beam-Trawl 

 Fishing, 1884. This is a great record for any man, 

 especiall}^ for one in whose life work of this kind was 

 outside his habitual occupation. It was no doubt in 

 special recognition of the important services given his 

 country by such work, as well as in general recognition 

 of his distinction in science, that he was sworn a mem- 

 ber of Her Majesty's Privy Council, so attaining a 

 distinction more coveted than the peerage. 



The voluminous reports of the Commissions shew 

 that Huxley, very far from being a silent member of 

 them, took a large part in framing the questions which 

 served to direct witnesses into useful lines, and that his 

 clear and orderly habit of thought proved as useful in 

 the elucidation of these subjects as they were in matters 

 of scientific research. For the most part, the problems 

 brought before the Commissions have lost their interest 

 for readers of later years, but there are matters still 



