The sequel shows how the departmental representatives of science did their best for science in Huxley’s case, so far as in their power lay:—­]

June 6, 1851.

The other day I received an intimation that my presence was required at Somerset House.  I rather expected the mandate, as six months’ leave was up.  Sir William was very civil, and told me that the Commander of the “Fisguard” had applied to the Admiralty to know what was to be done with me, as my leave had expired.  “Now,” said he, “go to Forest” (his secretary), “write a letter to me, stating what you want, and I will get it done for you.”  So away I went and applied for an indefinite amount of leave, on condition of reporting the progress of my work every six months, and as I suppose I shall get it, I feel quite easy on that head.

[In May 1851 he applied to the Royal Society for help from the Government Grant towards publishing the bulk of his work as a whole, for much of its value would be lost if scattered fragmentarily among the Transactions of various learned societies.  Personally, the members of the committee were very willing to make the grant, but on further consideration it appeared that the money was to be applied for promoting research, not for assisting publication; and moreover, it was desirable not to establish a precedent for saddling the funds at the disposal of the Society with all the publications which it was the clear duty of the Government to undertake.  On this ground the application was refused, but at the same time it was resolved that the Government be formally asked to give the necessary subvention towards bringing out these valuable papers.

A similar resolution was passed at the Ipswich meeting of the British Association in July 1851, and at a meeting of its Council in March 1852 the President declared himself ready to carry it into effect by asking the Treasury for the needful 300 pounds sterling.  But at the July meeting he could only report a non possumus answer for the current year (1852) from the Government, and a resolution was passed recommending that application on the subject be renewed by the British Association in the following year.

Meanwhile, weary of official delay, Huxley had conceived the idea of writing direct to the Duke of Northumberland, then First Lord of the Admiralty, whom he knew to take an interest in scientific research.  At the same time he stirred Lord Rosse, the President of the Royal Society, to repeat his application to the Treasury.  Although the Admiralty in April 1852 again refused money help, and bade him apply to the Royal Society for a portion of the Government Grant (which the latter had already refused him), the Hydrographer was directed to make inquiries as to the propriety of granting him an extension of leave.  To his question asking the exact amount of time still required for finishing the work of publication, Huxley returned what he described as a “savage reply,” that his experience of engravers led him to think that the plates could be published in eight or nine months from the receipt of a grant; that he had reason to believe this grant might soon be promised, but that the long delay was solely due to the remissness of those whose duty it was to represent his claims to the Government; and finally, that he must ask for a year’s extension of leave.