364 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, xxiv 



the science, theology, with the affection, religion, and either 

 crying for more theology under the name of religion, or 

 demanding the abolition of " religious " teaching in order 

 to get rid of theology, a step which he likens to " burning 

 your ship to get rid of the cockroaches." 



As regards his actual work on the Board, I must ex- 

 press my thanks to Dr. J. H. Gladstone for his kindness 

 in supplementing my information with an account based 

 partly on his own long experience of the Board, partly on 

 the reminiscences of members contemporary with my father. 



The Board met first on December 15, for the purpose 

 of electing a Chairman. As a preliminary, Huxley pro- 

 posed and carried a motion that no salary be attached to 

 the post. He was himself one of the four members pro- 

 posed for the Chairmanship ; but the choice of the Board 

 fell upon Lord Lawrence. In the words of Dr. Glad- 

 stone : — 



Huxley at once took a prominent part in the proceedings, 

 and continued to do so till the beginning of the year 1872, when 

 ill-health compelled him to retire. 



At first there was much curiosity both inside and outside the 

 Board as to how Huxley would work with the old educationists, 

 the clergy, dissenting ministers, and the miscellaneous body of 

 eminent men that comprised the first Board. His antagonism 

 to many of the methods employed in elementary schools was 

 well known from his various discourses, which had been recently 

 published together under the title of Lay Sermons, Addresses, 

 and Reviews. I watched his course with interest at the time; 

 but for the purpose of this sketch I have lately sought informa- 

 tion from such of the old members of the Board as are still 

 living, especially the Earl of Harrowby, Bishop Barry, the Rev. 

 Dr. Angus, and Mr. Edward North Buxton, together with Mr. 

 Croad, the Clerk of the Board. They soon found proof of his 

 great energy, and his power of expressing his views in clear 

 and forcible language ; but they also found that with all his 

 strong convictions and lofty ideals he was able and willing to 

 enter into the views of others, and to look at a practical question 

 from its several sides. He could construct as well as criticise. 

 Having entered a public arena somewhat late in life, and being 

 of a sensitive nature, he had scarcely acquired that calmness 

 and pachydermatous quality which is needful for one's personal 



