10 AUTOBIOGRAPHY 



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 appoint- 

 ment. 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 lodgings and wrote the 

 best letter I could devise. A few days afterwards 

 I received the usual official circular of acknowledg- 

 ment, but at the bottom there was written an in- 

 struction to call at Somerset House on such a day. 

 I thought that looked like business, so at the 

 appointed 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 return it, with the frugal 

 reminder that I should probably 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 English 

 to the backbone, and he made some inquiries as 

 to my student career, finally desiring me to hold 

 myself ready for examination. Having passed 

 ili is, 1 was in Her Majesty's Service, and entered 

 "ii the books of Nelson's old ship, the Victory, for 

 duty at Haslar Hospital, about a couple of months 

 i I made my application. 



