36 THOMAS HENRY HUXLEY 



tion to our knowledge of a group that had already 

 engaged the author's attention (cf. p. 20). 



One piece of work to which Huxley at this time turned 

 his attention in his capacity as Naturalist to the Geo- 

 logical Survey was that of museum arrangement. He 

 re -organized the Museum of Practical Geology in Jermyn 

 Street for teaching purposes, and from this period on 

 took a great interest in various British collections of 

 objects, whether public or private, large or small. In 

 his opinion, a great central collection ought to be of a 

 triple character, providing for the general public, the 

 specialist, and the requirements of applied science. In 

 many respects the magnificent Natural History Museum 

 at South Kensington, as now arranged, realizes these 

 ideals. The Natural History Museum in Hamburg may 

 also be pointed out as largely satisfying the requirements 

 which Huxley deemed to be of such importance. As to 

 local collections, he was strongly of opinion that they 

 should primarily be of local character. And in a letter 

 (dated December 8, 1872), to Mr. Alfred Walker, of. 

 Colwyn Bay, after emphasizing the importance of strictly 

 local collections, he adds, very characteristically : — 

 "Whereas the ordinary lumber-room of clubs from 

 New Zealand, Hindoo idols, sharks' teeth, scorpions, 

 mangy monkeys, and conch shells — who shall describe 

 the weary inutility of it?" (Life, i, p. 136). 



The most important personal event during 1857 was the . 

 birth, on New Year's Day*, of his first child, a son, whose 

 death nearly four years later was perhaps the greatest 

 grief of his life, borne with that fortitude and resignation 

 which distinguished him in times of adversity. 



Unfortunately during this year, and at but too frequent 

 intervals during the rest of his life, Huxley suffered from 

 severe attacks of bad health, for which the best cure 



