xl PROCEEDINGS. 



But, as we know, in course of time things changed. 

 There was at last some science pure and applied, there was 

 at last some exact knowledge to be known and taught; still 

 it was not for gentlemen. It might be all very well for those 

 who had to make engines and steamers and railways and 

 bridges, but it was still not a profession; you dirtied your 

 hands over it, and in particular, it was not taught at the 

 only two Universities in England, for that godless institution( ! !) , 

 University College, Gower Street, London, W. C, did not 

 count at all. 



One of the earliest national recognitions of pure science 

 was the institution of the School of Mines in London, and 

 later of the Royal College of Science now at South Kensing- 

 ton. The name of Huxley will always be associated with 

 these institutions, as well as with drawing the attention of 

 the British public to the existence of Science as a factor in 

 the life of the community. He also brought to notice the 

 dreadful inadequacy of the pay of the pure scientist. It is 

 told in his biography how on one occasion he was asking 

 some patron of an appointment he sought to vote for him, 

 when this gentleman enquired, "But how much is the posi- 

 tion worth after all?" "One hundred pounds," replied 

 Huxley; "Good gracious," exclaimed the other, "I give 

 more than that to my butler!" Precisely; we payforAvhat 

 we most desire; we will pay for those who provide us with 

 food and take care of our clothes — but pay scientists! No. 

 Who are they in any case? — there is no such profession, 

 day labourers' pay is good enough for them. But sc.;;nce 

 grew for all that: "magna est Veritas et prevalebit". Even 

 gentlemen now touched the accursed thing. Did not the late 

 Marquess of Salisl)ury have a private laboratory 

 at Hatfield house; was not one of his nephews, F. M. Balfour, 

 the Reader in Embryology at Cambridge; is not the Earl 

 of Berkeley a physicist, and F. R. S.; is not Lord Raleigh 

 at the present moment one of England's chief authorities 



