I quote from the “Times” report of the speech:—­]

But the most difficult task that remains is that which concerns myself.  It is 43 years ago this day since the Royal Society did me the honour to award me a Royal medal, and thereby determined my career.  But, having long retired into the position of a veteran, I confess that I was extremely astonished—­I honestly also say that I was extremely pleased to receive the announcement that you had been good enough to award to me the Darwin Medal.  But you know the Royal Society, like all things in this world, is subject to criticism.  I confess that with the ingrained instincts of an old official that which arose in my mind after the reception of the information that I had been thus distinguished was to start an inquiry which I suppose suggests itself to every old official—­How can my Government be justified?  In reflecting upon what had been my own share in what are now very largely ancient transactions, it was perfectly obvious to me that I had no such claims as those of Mr. Wallace.  It was perfectly clear to me that I had no such claims as those of my lifelong friend Sir Joseph Hooker, who for 25 years placed all his great sources of knowledge, his sagacity, his industry, at the disposition of his friend Darwin.  And really, I begin to despair of what possible answer could be given to the critics whom the Royal Society, meeting as it does on November 30, has lately been very apt to hear about on December 1.  Naturally there occurred to my mind that famous and comfortable line, which I suppose has helped so many people under like circumstances, “They also serve who only stand and wait.”  I am bound to confess that the standing and waiting, so far as I am concerned, to which I refer, has been of a somewhat peculiar character.  I can only explain it, if you will permit me to narrate a story which came to me in my old nautical days, and which, I believe, has just as much foundation as a good deal of other information which I derived at the same period from the same source.  There was a merchant ship in which a member of the Society of Friends had taken passage, and that ship was attacked by a pirate, and the captain thereupon put into the hands of the member of the Society of Friends a pike, and desired him to take part in the subsequent action, to which, as you may imagine, the reply was that he would do nothing of the kind; but he said that he had no objection to stand and wait at the gangway.  He did stand and wait with the pike in his hands, and when the pirates mounted and showed themselves coming on board he thrust his pike with the sharp end forward into the persons who were mounting, and he said, “Friend, keep on board thine own ship.”  It is in that sense that I venture to interpret the principle of standing and waiting to which I have referred.  I was convinced as firmly as I have ever been convinced of anything in my life, that the “Origin of Species” was a ship laden with a cargo of rich value, and which,