izo THOMAS HENRY HUXLEY 



greater possession than much learning ; a nobler gift than the 

 power of increasing knowledge ; by so much greater and nobler 

 than these, as the moral nature of man is greater than the 

 intellectual ; for veracity is the heart of morality." 



Then follows a plea for art and a scheme for the im- 

 provement of medical education. It is suggested that the 

 two first years be given to Anatomy, Physiology, Physio- 

 logical Chemistry and Physics ; the fundamental principles 

 of Chemistry, Physics, and Biology having been pre- 

 viously acquired. Huxley notes with satisfaction the 

 inclusion of Zoology as a compulsory subject in the Arts 

 course in Aberdeen. This, however, is not now the 

 case. The Address further advocates the establishment 

 of a Faculty of Science in every University, sets forth 

 the claims of research, touches on the question of exam- 

 inations, and points out the necessity for properly 

 organized secondary education. 



It is gratifying to find that Huxley was able, at Aber- 

 deen, to do something towards bringing about the reforms 

 in medical education which he advocated in his Rectorial 

 Address. 



The second important address of the year (August 2), 

 was upon "Joseph Priestley" (Coll. Essays, iii, p. 1), given 

 on the occasion of the presentation of a statue of Priestley 

 to the town of Birmingham by Lord Derby. He speaks 

 of Priestley as one of the men whose work helped to 

 bring about the expansion of science, and the scientific 

 spirit, which mark the nineteenth, as compared with the 

 eighteenth, century : — 



" If we ask what is the deeper meaning of all these vast 

 changes, I think there can be but one reply. They meant that 

 reason has asserted and exercised her primacy over all provinces 

 of human activity : that ecclesiastical authority has been relegated 

 to its proper place ; that the good of the governed has been 



