"I thought this rather a strong thing to do," says Huxley in his
autobiography, "as Sir William was personally unknown to me; but
my cheery friend would not listen to my scruples, so I went to my
lodgings and wrote the best letter I could devise. A few days
afterwards I received the usual official circular of
acknowledgement, but at the bottom was written an instruction to
call at Somerset House on such a day. I thought that looked like
business, so, at the appointed time I called and sent in my card,
while I waited in Sir William's ante-room. He was a tall,
shrewd-looking old gentleman, with a broad Scotch accent--and I
think I see him now as he entered with my card in his hand. The
first thing he did was to return it with the frugal reminder that
I should probably find it useful on some other occasion. The
second was to ask whether I was an Irishman. I suppose the air of
modesty about my appeal must have struck him. I satisfied the
Director-General that I was English to the backbone, and he made
some enquiries as to my student career, finally desiring me to
hold myself ready for examination. Having passed this, I was in
Her Majesty's service, and entered on the books of Nelson's old
ship, the _Victory_, for duty at Haslar Hospital, about a couple
of months after I made my application."

About the same time he passed the examination of the Royal College of
Surgeons and so became a fully qualified medical man. Haslar Hospital
was the chief naval hospital to which invalided sailors were sent.
There was a considerable staff of young surgeons, as navy surgeons
were usually sent for a term to work in the hospital before being
gazetted to a ship in commission. In connection with the hospital,
there was a museum of natural history containing a collection of