78 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. IV 



done is to vanish under blankets as soon as possible and 

 take twelve or fourteen hours' sleep. 



Mrs. Stanley's Bougirigards, 1 which I have taken 

 under my care during the cold weather, admire this sort 

 of thing exceedingly and thrive under it, so I suppose I 

 ought to. 



The journey from New Zealand here has been upon 

 the whole favourable ; no gales quite the reverse but 

 light variable winds and calms. The latter part of our 

 voyage has, however, been very cold, snow falling in 

 abundance, and the ice forming great stalactites about 

 our bows. We have seen no icebergs nor anything 

 remarkable. From all I can learn it is most probable 

 that we shall leave in about a week and shall go direct to 

 England without stopping at any other port. I wish it 

 may be so. I want to get home and look about me. 



We have had news up to the end of March. There is 

 nothing of any importance going on. By the Navy List 

 for April I see that I shall be as nearly as possible in the 

 middle of those of my own rank, i.e. I shall have about 

 150 above and as many below me. This is about what 

 I ought to expect in the ordinary run of promotion in 

 eight years, and I have served four and a half of that 

 time. I don't expect much in the way of promotion, 

 especially in these economic times ; but I do not fear that 

 I shall be able to keep me in England for at least a year 

 after our arrival, in order to publish my papers. The 

 Admiralty have quite recently published a distinct 

 declaration that they will consider scientific attainments 

 as a claim to their notice, and I expect to be the first to 

 remind them of their promise, and I will take care to 

 have the reminder so backed that they must and shall 

 take note of it. Even if they will not promote me at 

 once, it would answer our purpose to have an appoint- 

 ment to some ship on the home station for a short time. 



1 The Australian love-bird ; a small parrakeet. 



