1850 PUBLICATION OF PAPERS 81 



system and becomes, first a sceptic, and then an investi- 

 gator. This change, which did not fail to affect Huxley, 

 and through which arose that Huxley whom we com- 

 memorate to-day, is no unknown occurrence to one who 

 is acquainted with the history, not only of knowledge, 

 but also of scholars. 



But he was not destined to find his subsequent 

 path easy. Once in England, indeed, he did not lose 

 any time. No sooner had the Rattlesnake touched at 

 Plymouth than Commander Yule, who had succeeded 

 Captain Stanley in the command of the ship, wrote to 

 the head of the Naval Medical Department stating 

 the circumstances under which Huxley's zoological 

 investigations had been undertaken, and asking the 

 sanction of the Admiralty for their publication. The 

 hydrographer, in sending the formal permission, 

 says : 



But I have to add that their Lordships will not allow 

 any charge to be made upon the public funds towards the 

 expense. You will, however, further assure Mr. Huxley 

 that any assistance that can be supplied from this office 

 shall be most cheerfully given to him, and that I heartily 

 hope, from the capacity and taste for scientific investiga- 

 tion for which you give him credit, that he will produce 

 a work alike creditable to himself, to his late Captain, 

 by whom he was selected for it, and to Her Majesty's 

 service. 



Personally, the hydrographer took a great interest 

 in science ; but as for the department, Huxley some- 

 what bitterly interpreted the official meaning of this 

 well-sounding flourish to be made : " Publish if you 



VOK I G 



