24 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. I 



felt, depended momentous issues the fostering of 

 the moral and physical well-being of the nation ; the 

 quickening of its intelligence and the maintenance of 

 its commercial supremacy. Withal, he desired to 

 temper " book-learning " with something of the direct 

 knowledge of nature : on the one hand, as an admir- 

 able instrument of education, if properly applied ; on 

 the other, as preparing the way for an attitude of 

 mind which could appreciate the reasons for the 

 immense changes already beginning to operate in 

 human thought. 



Moreover, he possessed a considerable knowledge 

 of the working of elementary education throughout 

 the country, owing to his experience as examiner 

 under the Science and Art Department, the establish- 

 ment of which he describes as "a measure which 

 came into existence unnoticed, but which will, I 

 believe, turn out to be of more importance to the 

 welfare of the people than many political changes 

 over which the noise of battle has rent the air" 

 (Scientific Education, 1869; Coll Ess. iii p. 131). 



Accordingly, though with health uncertain, and in 

 the midst of exacting occupations, he felt that he 

 ought not to stand aside at so critical a moment, and 

 offered himself for election in the Marylebone division 

 with a secret sense that rejection would in many 

 ways be a great relief. 



The election took place on November 29, and 

 Huxley came out second on the poll. He had had 

 neither the means nor the time for a regular canvass 



