Secondly, looking back through the same long period of scientific history, I know of but one man, Lyonnet, who not being from his youth a trained anatomist, has published such an admirable minute anatomical research as is contained in Mr. Darwin’s work on the Cirripedes.

Thirdly, in that region which lies between Geology and Biology, and is occupied by the problem of the influence of life on the structure of the globe, no one, so far as I know, has done a more brilliant and far-reaching piece of work than the famous book upon Coral Reefs.

I add to these as incidental trifles the numerous papers on Geology, and that most delightful of popular scientific books, the “Journal of a Naturalist,” and I think I have made out my case for the justification of to-day’s proceedings.

But I have omitted something.  There is the “Origin of Species,” and all that has followed it from the same marvellously fertile brain.

Most people know Mr. Darwin only as the author of this work, and of the form of evolutional doctrine which it advocates.  I desire to say nothing about that doctrine.  My friend Dr. Humphry has said that the University has by to-day’s proceedings committed itself to the doctrine of evolution.  I can only say “I am very glad to hear it.”  But whether that doctrine be true or whether it be false, I wish to express the deliberate opinion, that from Aristotle’s great summary of the Biological knowledge of his time down to the present day, there is nothing comparable to the “Origin of Species,” as a connected survey of the phenomena of life permeated and vivified by a central idea.  In remote ages the historian of science will dwell upon it as the starting-point of the Biology of his present and our future.

My friend Dr. Humphry has adverted to somebody about whom I know nothing, who says that the exact and critical studies pursued in this University are ill-calculated to preserve a high tone of mind.

I presume that this saying must proceed from some one wholly unacquainted with Cambridge.  Whoever he may be, I beg him, if he can, to make the acquaintance of Charles Darwin.

In Mr. Darwin’s name I beg leave to thank you for the honour you have done him.

[It happened that the quadrennial election of a Lord Rector at St. Andrews University fell in this year, and on behalf of a number of students, Huxley received a telegram from his son, now newly entered at St. Andrews, asking him to stand.  He writes to his wife:—­]

That boy of yours has just sent me a telegram, which I enclose.  I sent back message to say that as a Commissioner on the Scotch Universities I could not possibly stand.  The cockerel is beginning to crow early.  I do believe that to please the boy I should have assented to it if it had not been for the Royal Commission.

[Apropos of controversies (November 23)]

We had a grand discussion at the Royal Society last night between Tyndall and Burdon Sanderson.  The place was crammed, and we had a late sitting.  I’m not sure, however, that we had got much further at the end than at the beginning, which is a way controversies have.