AUTOBIOGRAPHY 15 



I may have permitted myself to entertain to other ends; 

 to the popularisation of science; to the development and 

 organisation of scientific education; to the endless series of 

 battles and skirmishes over evolution; and to untiring op- 

 position to that ecclesiastical spirit, that clericalism, which 

 in England, as everywhere else, and to whatever denomi- 

 nation it may belong, is the deadly enemy of science. 



In striving for the attainment of these objects, I have 

 been but one among many, and I shall be well content to 

 be remembered, or even not remembered, as such. Circum- 

 stances, among which I am proud to reckon the devoted 

 kindness of many friends, have led to my occupation of 

 various prominent positions, among which the Presidency 

 of the Royal Society is the highest. It would be mock mod- 

 esty on my part, with these and other scientific honours 

 which have been bestowed upon me, to pretend that I have 

 not succeeded in the career which I have followed, rather 

 because I was driven into it than of my own free will; but 

 I am afraid I should not count even these things as marks 

 of success if I could not hope that I had somewhat helped 

 that movement of opinion which has been called the New 

 Reformation. 



