Life and Letters of Thomas Henry Huxley Volume I Part 49

CHAPTER 1.23.

1869.

[In 1869 Huxley published five paleontological papers, chiefly upon the Dinosaurs (see letter above to Haeckel, January 21, 1868). His physiological researches upon the development of parts of the skull, are represented by a paper for the Zoological Society, while the "Introduction to the Cla.s.sification of Animals" was a reprint this year of the substance of six lectures in the first part of the lectures on "Elementary Comparative Anatomy" (1864), which were out of print, but still in demand by students.

As President of the Ethnological Society, he delivered an inaugural address "On the Ethnology and Archeology of India," on March 9, and another "On the Ethnology and Archeology of North America," on April 13.

As president of the Society, moreover, he urged upon the Government the advisability of forming a systematic series of photographs of the various races comprehended in the British Empire, and was officially called upon to offer suggestions for carrying out the project. This appears to be an amplification of Sir Joseph Fayrer's plan in 1866, with respect to all the tribes of India (see Appendix 1.)

On April 7 he delivered his "Scientific Education: Notes of an After-Dinner Speech" before the Philomathic Society at Liverpool ("Collected Essays" 3 3), one part of which deals with the att.i.tude of the clergy towards physical science, and expresses the necessary antagonism between science and Roman Catholic doctrine which appears more forcibly in one of his speeches at the School Board in 1871.

In this and other educational addresses, he had suggested that one of the best ways of imparting to children a preliminary knowledge of the phenomena of nature would be a course of what the Germans call "Erdkunde," or general information about the world we live in. It should reach from our simplest everyday observations to wide generalisations of physical science; and should supply a background for the study of history. To this he gave the name "Physiography," a name which he believed to be original, until in 1877 his attention was called to the fact that a "Physiographie" had been published in Paris thirty years before.

The idea was no new one with him. Part of his preliminary lectures at the School of Mines had been devoted to something of the kind for the last dozen years; he had served on the Committee of the British a.s.sociation, appointed in 1866 as the result of a paper by the present Dean Farrar, then a Harrow master, "On the Teaching of Science in the Public Schools," to report upon the whole question. Moreover, in consultation with Dr. Tyndall, he had drawn up a scheme in the winter 1868-69, for the science teaching in the International College, on the Council of which they both were.

Seven yearly grades were arranged in this scheme, proceeding from the simplest account of the phenomena of nature taught chiefly by object lessons, largely through the elements of Physics and Botany, Chemistry and Human Physiology--all ill.u.s.trated with practical demonstrations--to more advanced work in these subjects, as well as in Social Science, which embraced not only the theory of commerce and government, but the Natural History of Man up to the point at which Ethnology and Archeology touch history.

It is interesting to note that the framers of this report thought it necessary to point out that one master could not teach all these subjects.

In the three later stages the boys might follow alternative lines of study according to their tastes and capacities; but of the earlier part, which was to be obligatory upon all, the report says:--These four years study, if properly employed by the teachers, will const.i.tute a complete preparatory scientific course. However slight the knowledge of details conferred, a wise teacher of any of these subjects will be able to make that teaching thorough; and to give the scholar a notion of the methods and of the ideas which he will meet with in his further progress in all branches of physical science.

In fact, the fundamental principle was to begin with Observational Science, facts collected; to proceed to Cla.s.sificatory Science, facts arranged; and to end with Inductive Science, facts reasoned upon and laws deduced.

While he was much occupied with the theoretical and practical difficulties of such a scheme of science teaching for general use, he was asked by his friend, the Reverend W. Rogers of Bishopsgate, if he would not deliver a course of lectures on elementary science to boys of the schools in which the latter was interested.

He finally accepted in the following letter, and as the result, delivered twelve lectures week by week from April to June to a large audience at the London Inst.i.tution in Finsbury Circus, lectures not easily forgotten by the children who listened to them nor by their elders:--]

Jermyn Street, February 5, 1869.

My dear Rogers,

Upon due reflection I am not indisposed to undertake the course of lessons we talked about the other day, though they will cost me a good deal of trouble in various ways, and at a time of the year when I am getting to the end of my tether and don't much like trouble.

But the scheme is too completely in harmony with what (in conjunction with Tyndall and others) I have been trying to bring about in schools in general--not to render it a great temptation to me to try to get it into practical shape.

All I have to stipulate is that we shall have a clear understanding on the part of the boys and teachers that the discourses are to [be]

LESSONS and not talkee-talkee lectures. I should like it to be understood that the boys are to take notes and to be examined at the end of the course. Of course I cannot undertake to be examiner, but the schools might make some arrangement on this point.

You see my great object is to set going something which can be worked in every school in the country in a thorough and effectual way, and set an example of the manner in which I think this sort of introduction to science ought to be managed.

Unless this can be done I would rather not embark in a project which will involve much labour, worry, and interruption to my regular line of work.

I met Mr. [illegible] last night, and discussed the subject briefly with him.

Ever yours very faithfully,

T.H. Huxley.

I enclose a sort of rough programme of the kind of thing I mean, cut up from a project of instruction for a school about which I am now busy.

The managers might like to see it. But I shall be glad to have it returned.

[These lectures were repeated in November at South Kensington Museum, as the first part of a threefold course to women on the elements of physical science, and the "Times" reporter naively remarks that under the rather alarming name of Physiography, many of the audience were no doubt surprised to hear an exceedingly simple and lucid description of a river-basin. Want of leisure prevented him from bringing out the lectures in book form until November 1877. When it did appear, however, the book, like his other popular works, had a wide sale, and became the forerunner of an immense number of school-books on the subject.

As President of the Geological Society, he delivered an address ("Collected Essays" 8 305), at the anniversary meeting, February 19, upon the "Geological Reform" demanded by the considerations advanced by the physicists, as to the age of the earth and the duration of life upon it. From the point of view of biology he was ready to accept the limits suggested, provided that the premises of Sir William Thomson's (Now Lord Kelvin.) argument were shown to be perfectly reliable; but he pointed out a number of considerations which might profoundly modify the results of the isolated causes adduced; and uttered a warning against the possible degradation of "a proper reverence for mathematical certainty"

into "a superst.i.tious respect for all arguments arrived at by process of mathematics." (See "Collected Essays" 8 Introduction page 8.)

At the close of the year, as his own period of office came to an end, it was necessary to select a new president of the Geological. He strongly urged Professor (afterwards Sir Joseph) Prestwich to stand, and when the latter consented, a few weeks, by the way, before his marriage was to take place, replied:--]

Jermyn Street, December 16, 1869.

My dear Prestwich,

Many thanks for your letter. Your consent to become our President for the next period will give as unfeigned satisfaction to the whole body of the Society as it does to me and your other personal friends.

I have looked upon the affair as settled since our last talk, and a very great relief it has been to my mind.

There is no doubt public-dinner speaking (and indeed all public speaking) is nervous work. I funk horribly, though I never get the least credit for it. But it is like swimming, the worst of it is in the first plunge; and after you have taken your "header" it's not so bad (just like matrimony, by the way; only don't be so mean as to go and tell a certain lady I said so, because I want to stand well in her books.)

Of course you may command me in all ways in which I can possibly be of use. But as one of the chiefs of the Society, and personally and scientifically popular with the whole body, you start with an immense advantage over me, and will find no difficulties before you.

We will consider this business formally settled, and I shall speak of it officially.

Ever yours very faithfully,

T.H. Huxley.

[I cannot place the following letter to Matthew Arnold with certainty, but it must have been written about this period. (The most probable date being 1869, for on July 1 of that year he dined with Matthew Arnold at Harrow.) Everyone will sympathise with the situation:--]

26 Abbey Place, July 8.

My dear Arnold,

Look at Bishop Wilson on the sin of covetousness and then inspect your umbrella stand. You will there see a beautiful brown smooth-handled umbrella which is NOT your property.

Think of what the excellent prelate would have advised and bring it with you next time you come to the club. The porter will take care of it for me.

Ever yours faithfully,

T.H. Huxley.

[The following letter shows how paleontological work was continually pouring in upon him:--]

Jermyn Street, May 7, 1869.

My dear Darwin,

Do you recollect recommending that the "Na.s.sau," which sailed under Captain Mayne's command for Magellan's Straits some years ago should explore a fossiliferous deposit at the Gallegos River?

They visited the place the other day as you will see by Cunningham's letter which I enclose, and got some fossils which are now in my hands.