44 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. Ill 



superior, John Thomson, was a man of sterling 

 worth ; and Captain Stanley was an excellent com- 

 mander, and sympathetic withal. Among Huxley's 

 messmates there was only one, the ship's clerk, who 

 ever made himself actively disagreeable, and a quarrel 

 with him only served to bring into relief the young 

 surgeon's integrity and directness of action. After 

 some dispute, in which he had been worsted, this 

 gentleman sought to avenge himself by dropping 

 mysterious hints as to Huxley's conduct before join- 

 ing the ship. He had been treasurer of his mess ; 

 there had been trouble about the accounts, and a 

 scandal had barely been averted. This was not long 

 in coming to Huxley's ears. Furiously indignant as 

 he was, he did not lose his self-control ; but promptly 

 inviting the members of the wardroom to meet as 

 a court of honour, laid his case before them, and 

 challenged his accuser to bring forward any tittle of 

 evidence in support of his insinuations. The latter 

 had nothing to say for himself, and made a formal 

 retraction and apology. A signed account of the pro- 

 ceedings was kept by the first officer, and a duplicate 

 by Huxley, as a defence against any possible revival 

 of the slander. 



On December 3, 1846, the Rattlesnake frigate left 

 Spithead, but touched again at Plymouth to ship 

 65,000 of specie for the Cape. This delay was no 



says Captain Heath, who was one of these middies, Huxley's 

 constant good spirits and fun, when he was not absorbed in his 

 work, his freedom from any assumption of superiority over them, 

 made the boys his good comrades and allies. 



