144 



LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, x 



writing of " introductions " to each section of the catalogue, 

 which should be a guide to the students. The " Method of 

 Paleontology " mentioned above served as the prefatory 

 essay to the whole catalogue, and was reprinted in 1869 

 by the Smithsonian Institute of Washington under the title 

 of Principles and Methods of Paleontology. 



This work led to his taking a lively interest in the 

 organisation of museums in general, whether private, such 

 as Sir Philip Egerton's, which he visited in 1856 ; local, such 

 as Warwick or Chester; or central, such as the British Mu- 

 seum or that at Manchester. 



With regard to the British Museum, the question had 

 arisen of removing the Natural History collections from the 

 confined space and dusty surroundings of Great Russell 

 Street. A first memorial on the subject had been signed, 

 not only by many non-scientific persons, but also by a 

 number of botanists, who wished to see the British Museum 

 Herbarium, etc., combined with the more accessible and 

 more complete collections at Kew. Owing apparently to offi- 

 cial opposition, the Natural History sub-committee of the 

 British Museum Trustees advised a treatment of the Botan- 

 ical Department which commended itself to none of the 

 leading botanists. Consequently a number of botanists and 

 zoologists took counsel together and drew up a fresh memo- 

 rial from the strictly scientific point of view. Huxley and 

 Hooker took an active part in the agitation. " It is no use," 

 writes the former to his friend, " putting any faith in the old 

 buffers, hardened as they are in trespasses and sin." And 

 again : — 



I see nothing for it but for you and I to constitute ourselves 

 into a permanent " Committee of Public Safety," to watch over 

 what is being done and take measures with the advice of others 



when necessary. ... As for and id genus omne, I have 



never expected anything but opposition from them. But I 

 don't think it is necessary to trouble one's head about such 

 opposition. It may be annoying and troublesome, but if we are 

 beaten by it we deserve to be. We shall have to wade through 

 oceans of trouble and abuse, but so long as we gain our end, 

 I care not a whistle whether the sweet voices of the scientific 

 mob are with me or against me. 



