Thomas Henry Huxley; A Sketch Of His Life And Work. Sir P. Chalmers Mitchell

Three Hypotheses of the Earth's History—Changes in the Past Proved—The Creation Hypothesis—Gladstone on Genesis—Genesis not a Record of Fact—The Hypothesis of Evolution—The New Testament—Theory of Inspiration—Reliance on the Miraculous—The Continuity of Nature no a priori Argument against Miracles—Possibilities and Impossibilities—Miracles a Question of Evidence—Praise of the Bible.

       CHAPTER XVI

      261ETHICS OF THE COSMOS

      Conduct and Metaphysics—Conventional and Critical Minds—Good and Evil—Huxley's Last Appearance at Oxford—The Ethical Process and the Cosmic Process—Man's Intervention—The Cosmic Process Evil—Ancient Reconciliations—Modern Acceptance of the Difficulties—Criticism of Huxley's Pessimism—Man and his Ethical Aspirations Part of the Cosmos.

       CHAPTER XVII

      275CLOSING DAYS AND SUMMARY

      Huxley's Life in London—Decennial Periods—Ill-health—Retirement to Eastbourne—Death—Personal Appearance—Methods of Work—Personal Characteristics—An Inspirer of Others—His Influence in Science—A Naturalist by Vocation—His Aspirations.

       287 INDEX

ILLUSTRATIONS

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      PAGE

      Frontispiece THOMAS HENRY HUXLEY From a photograph by London Stereoscopic Company

      64THOMAS HENRY HUXLEY, 1857 Reproduced by permission from "Natural Science," vol. vii., No. 42

      98SIR JOSEPH DALTON HOOKER From a photograph by Elliott and Fry, London

      146CHARLES DARWIN From the painting by Hon. John Collier in the National Portrait Gallery

      236SIR CHARLES LYELL From a photograph by London Stereoscopic Company

      276CARICATURE OF HUXLEY DRAWN BY HIMSELF Reproduced by permission from "Natural Science," vol. vii., No. 46.

LIST OF HUXLEY'S WRITINGS

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      This list is offered, not as a bibliography in the technical sense, but as an indication of the sources in which the vast majority of Huxley's scientific and general work may be consulted most conveniently.

      The Scientific Memoirs of Thomas Henry Huxley. Edited by Professor Sir Michael Foster and Professor E. Ray Lankester; in four volumes. London, Macmillan & Co.; New York, D. Appleton.

      This magnificent collection is intended to contain all Huxley's original scientific papers, brought together from the multitude of scientific periodicals in which they appeared, with reproductions of the original illustrations. The only exception is the monograph on Oceanic Hydrozoa. The first volume appeared in 1898; the second in 1899, and the others are to follow quickly.

      Collected Essays by T.H. Huxley; nine volumes of the Eversley Series. Macmillan & Co. London, 1893–95.

      This set, edited by Huxley himself, contains the more important of his more general contributions to science and his literary, philosophical, and political and critical essays. Each volume has a preface specially written, and the first volume contains his autobiography.

      The Oceanic Hydrozoa; a description of the Calycophoridæ and Physophoridæ observed during the Voyage of H.M.S. Rattlesnake in the years 1846–50, with a general introduction. Ray Society. London, 1859.

      Evidence as to Man's Place in Nature. Williams & Norgate. London, 1863.

      On our Knowledge of the Causes of Organic Phenomena; being Six Lectures to Working Men. Hardwicke. London, 1863.

      Lectures on the Elements of Comparative Anatomy. On the Classification of Animals and the Vertebrate Skull. Churchill & Sons. London, 1864.

      An Elementary Atlas of Comparative Osteology. In twelve plates. Williams & Norgate. London, 1864.

      Lessons in Elementary Physiology. Macmillan & Co. London, 1866.

      An Introduction to the Classification of Animals. Churchill. London, 1869.

      A Manual of the Anatomy of Vertebrated Animals. Churchill. London, 1871.

      A Course of Practical Instruction in Elementary Biology, assisted by H.N. Martin. Macmillan. London, 1875.

      A Manual of the Anatomy of Invertebrated Animals. Churchill. London, 1877.

      Lay Sermons, Essays, and Reviews. Macmillan. London, 1877.

      American Addresses, with a Lecture on the Study of Biology. Macmillan. London, 1877.

      Physiography, an Introduction to the Study of Zoölogy. International Scientific Series. Kegan Paul. London, 1880.

      Introductory Primer. Science Primers. Macmillan. London, 1880.

      The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin. Edited by his son, Francis Darwin. Volume II., with Chapter V. by Professor Huxley on the Reception of the Origin of Species. John Murray. London, 1887.

      Life of Richard Owen. By his grandson. With an Essay on Owen's Position in Anatomical Science, by T.H. Huxley. John Murray. London, 1894.

THOMAS HENRY HUXLEY

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CHAPTER I

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FROM SCHOOL TO LIFE-WORK

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      Birth—Parentage—School-days—Choice of Medical Profession—Charing Cross Hospital—End of Medical Studies—Admission to Naval Medical Service.

      Some men are born to greatness: even before their arrival in the world their future is marked out for them. All the advantages that wealth and the experience of friends can bring attend their growth to manhood, and their success almost loses its interest because of the ease with which it is attained. Few of the leaders of science were in such a position: many of them, such as Priestley, Davy, Faraday, John Hunter, and Linnæus were of humble parentage, and received the poorest education: most of them, like Huxley himself, have come from parents who were able to do little more for their children than set them out into life