CHAPTER III 



SUCCESSES AND FAILURE [185O-4]. 



From the return of the Rattlesnake till 1854 Huxley's 

 career was scientifically a brilliant success, but other- 

 wise a long series of disappointments, not unmixed with 

 family sorrow. In 1849 the Admiralty had promised 

 him either rapid promotion or financial aid in the publi- 

 cation of his scientific work, but neither promise was 

 redeemed. In spite of the backing of many influential 

 friends, including Sir John Richardson, Prof. Owen 

 and Prof. Edward Forbes, the concessions granted him 

 practically amounted to leave of absence for three years 

 and a half, these being largely spent in working out his 

 results, as embodied in the memoirs dealt with in the 

 last chapter, and in preparation of the monograph on 

 " The Oceanic Hydrozoa," to publish which the Govern- 

 ment Grant was needed. 



The matter came to a head when he applied for a 

 further extension of leave in January 1854, ^^^ answer 

 to which was an order to join the Illustrious at Ports- 

 mouth. Failing to comply with this, he was finally 

 struck off the Navy List in the following March. Not 

 only did he fail in getting the promised aid for publica- 

 tion from the Admiralty, but, for purely technical 

 reasons, the Royal Society was unable to allot him a 

 portion of the annual Government Research Grant for 

 this end. 



During these years Huxley was also unsuccessful in 

 applications successively made for chairs in Toronto, 



15 



