96 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. V 



indeed, showed him the greatest kindness throughout 

 this period of struggle, and the sympathy and intel- 

 lectual stimulus he received from their society were 

 of the utmost help. They were always ready to 

 welcome him at Greenwich, and he not only often 

 ran down there for a week-end, but would spend part 

 of his vacations with them at Lowestoft or Tenby, 

 where naturalists could find plenty of occupation. 



But from a worldly point of view, it was too soon 

 clear that science was sadly unprofitable. There 

 seemed no speedy prospect of making enough to 

 marry on. As early as March 1851 he writes : 



The difficulties of obtaining a decent position in 

 England in anything like a reasonable time seem to me 

 greater than ever they were. To attempt to live by any 

 scientific pursuit is a farce. Nothing but what is absol- 

 utely practical will go down in England. A man of 

 science may earn great distinction, but not bread. He 

 will get invitations to all sorts of dinners and conversa- 

 ziones, but not enough income to pay his cab fare. A 

 man of science in these times is like an Esau who sells his 

 birthright for a mess of pottage. Again, if one turns to 

 practice, it is still the old story wait ; and only after 

 years of working like a galley-slave and intriguing like a 

 courtier is there any chance of getting a decent livelihood. 

 I am not at all sure if ... it would not be the most 

 prudent thing to stick by the Service : there at any rate 

 is certainty in health and in sickness. 



Nevertheless he was mightily encouraged in the 

 work of bringing out his Rattlesnake papers by a 

 notable success in a quarter where he scarcel} 7 dared 

 to hope for it. The Koyal Society had for some 



