i846 ENTERS THE NAVY 



25 



Whatever then he might think of his own work, judged 

 by his own standards, he had done well enough as medical 

 students go. But a brilliant career as a student did not suf- 

 fice to start him in life or provide him with a livelihood. How 

 he came to enter the Navy is best told in his own words. 



It was in the early spring of 1846, that, having finished my 

 obligatory medical studies and passed the first M.B. examina- 

 tion at the London University, though I was still too young to 

 qualify at the College of Surgeons, I was talking to a fellow- 

 student (the present eminent physician, Sir Joseph Fayrer), 

 and wondering what I should do to meet the imperative neces- 

 sity for earning my own bread, when my friend suggested that 

 I should write to Sir William Burnett, at that time Director- 

 General for the Medical Service of the Navy, for an appoint- 

 ment. I thought this rather a strong thing to do, as Sir William 

 was personally unknown to me, but my cheery friend would not 

 listen to my scruples, so I went to my lodgings and wrote the 

 best letter I could devise. A few days afterwards I received 

 the usual official circular of acknowledgment, but at the bottom 

 there was written an instruction to call at Somerset House on 

 such a day. I thought that looked like business, so at the 

 appointed time I called and sent in my card while I waited in 

 Sir William's anteroom. He was a tall, shrewd-looking old 

 gentleman, with a broad Scotch accent, and I think I see him 

 now as he entered with my card in his hand. The first thing he 

 did was to return it, with the frugal reminder that I should 

 probably find it useful on some other occasion. The second was 

 to ask whether I was an Irishman. I suppose the air of modesty 

 about my appeal must have struck him. I satisfied the Director- 

 General that I was English to the backbone, and he made some 

 inquiries as to my student career, finally desiring me to hold 

 myself ready for examination. Having passed this, I was in 

 Her Majesty's Service, and entered on the books of Nelson's old 

 ship the Victory, for duty at Haslar Hospital, about a couple 

 of months after my application. 



My official chief at Haslar was a very remarkable person, 

 the late Sir John Richardson, an excellent naturalist and far- 

 famed as an indomitable Arctic traveller. He was a silent, re- 

 served man, outside the circle of his family and intimates ; and 

 having a full share of youthful vanity, I was extremely dis- 

 gusted to find that " Old John," as we irreverent youngsters 

 called him, took not the slightest notice of my worshipful self. 



