1842 HIS FIRST SUCCESS 27 



both pudding and praise, but the charm of success lay 

 in Lizzie's warm congratulation and sympathy. Since 

 then she always took upon herself to prophesy touching 

 the future fortunes of " the boy." 



The haphazard, unsystematic nature of preliminary 

 medical study here presented cannot fail to strike 

 one with wonder. Thomas Huxley was now seven- 

 teen ; he had already had two years' " practice in 

 pharmacy," as a testimonial put it. After a similar 

 apprenticeship, his brother had made the acquaintance 

 of the director of the Gloucester Lunatic Asylum, 

 and was given by him the post of dispenser or 

 "apothecary," which he filled so satisfactorily as to 

 receive a promise that if he went to London for a 

 couple of years to complete his medical training, a 

 substitute should be appointed meanwhile to keep 

 the place until he returned. 



The opportunity to which both the brothers looked 

 came in the shape of the Free Scholarships offered 

 by the Charing Cross Hospital to students whose 

 parents were unable to pay for their education. 

 Testimonials as to the position and general education 

 of the candidates were required, and it is curious 

 that one of the persons applied to by the elder 



1842. Another botanical prize is a book La Botanique, by A. 

 Richard with the following inscription : 



THOMAE HUXLEY 



In Exercitatione Botanices 



Apud Scholam Collegii Sydenhamiensis 



Optime Merenti 



Hunc librum dono dedit 



RICARDUS D. HOBLYN, Botanices Professor. 



