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earliest indication I can call to mind of the strong clerical
affinities which my friend Mr。 Herbert Spencer ＇5＇ has always
ascribed to me； though I fancy they have for the most part remained
in a latent state。
My regular school training was of the briefest； perhaps
fortunately； for though my way of life has made me acquainted with
all sorts and conditions of men； from the highest to the lowest； I
deliberately affirm that the society I fell into at school was the
worst I have ever known。 We boys were average lads； with much the
same inherent capacity for good and evil as any others； but the
people who were set over us cared about as much for our
intellectual and moral welfare as if they were baby…farmers。 We
were left to the operation of the struggle for existence among
ourselves； and bullying was the least of the ill practices current
among us。 Almost the only cheerful reminiscence in connection with
the place which arises in my mind is that of a battle I had with
one of my classmates； who had bullied me until I could stand it no
longer。 I was a very slight lad； but there was a wild…cat element
in me which； when roused； made up for lack of weight； and I licked
my adversary effectually。 However； one of my first experiences of
the extremely rough…and…ready nature of justice； as exhibited by
the course of things in general； arose out of the fact that Ithe
victorhad a black eye； while hethe vanquishedhad none； so
that I got into disgrace and he did not。 We made it up； and
thereafter I was unmolested。 One of the greatest shocks I ever
received in my life was to be told a dozen years afterwards by the
groom who brought me my horse in a stable…yard in Sydney that he
was my quondam antagonist。 He had a long story of family
misfortune to account for his position； but at that time it was
necessary to deal very cautiously with mysterious strangers in New
South Wales； and on inquiry I found that the unfortunate young man
had not only been 〃sent out；〃 but had undergone more than one
colonial conviction。
As I grew older； my great desire was to be a mechanical engineer；
but the fates were against this and； while very young； I commenced
the study of medicine under a medical brother…in…law。 But； though
the Institute of Mechanical Engineers would certainly not own me； I
am not sure that I have not all along been a sort of mechanical
engineer in partibus infidelium。＇6＇ I am now occasionally horrified
to think how very little I ever knew or cared about medicine as the
art of healing。 The only part of my professional course which
really and deeply interested me was physiology； which is the
mechanical engineering of living machines； and； notwithstanding
that natural science has been my proper business； I am afraid there
is very little of the genuine naturalist in me。 I never collected
anything； and species work was always a burden to me； what I cared
for was the architectural and engineering part of the business； the
working out of the wonderful unity of plan in the thousands and
thousands of diverse living constructions； and the modifications of
similar apparatuses to serve diverse ends。 The extraordinary
attraction I felt towards the study of the intricacies of living
structure nearly proved fatal to me at the outset。 I was a mere
boyI think between thirteen and fourteen years of agewhen I was
taken by some older student friends of mine to the first post…
mortem examination I ever attended。 All my life I have been most
unfortunately sensitive to the disagreeables which attend
anatomical pursuits； but on this occasion my curiosity overpowered
all other feelings； and I spent two or three hours in gratifying
it。 I did not cut myself； and none of the ordinary symptoms of
dissection…poison supervened； but poisoned I was somehow； and I
remember sinking into a strange state of apathy。 By way of a last
chance； I was sent to the care of some good； kind people； friends
of my father's； who lived in a farmhouse in the heart of
Warwickshire。 I remember staggering from my bed to the window on
the bright spring morning after my arrival； and throwing open the
casement。 Life seemed to come back on the wings of the breeze； and
to this day the faint odor of wood…smoke； like that which floated
across the farm…yard in the early morning； is as good to me as the
〃sweet south upon a bed of violets。〃＇7＇ I soon recovered； but for
years I suffered from occasional paroxysms of internal pain； and
from that time my constant friend； hypochondriacal dyspepsia；
commenced his half century of co…tenancy of my fleshly tabernacle。
Looking back on my 〃Lehrjahre；〃＇8＇ I am sorry to say that I do not
think that any account of my doings as a student would tend to
edification。 In fact； I should distinctly warn ingenuous youth to
avoid imitating my example。 I worked extremely hard when it
pleased me； and when it did notwhich was a very frequent caseI
was extremely idle （unless making caricatures of one's pastors and
masters is to be called a branch of industry）； or else wasted my
energies in wrong directions。 I read everything I could lay hands
upon； including novels； and took up all sorts of pursuits to drop
them again quite as speedily。 No doubt it was very largely my own
fault； but the only instruction from which I ever obtained the
proper effect of education was that which I received from Mr。
Wharton Jones； who was the lecturer on physiology at the Charing
Cross School of Medicine。 The extent and precision of his
knowledge impressed me greatly； and the severe exactness of his
method of lecturing was quite to my taste。 I do not know that I
have ever felt so much respect for anybody as a teacher before or
since。 I worked hard to obtain his approbation； and he was
extremely kind and helpful to the youngster who； I am afraid； took
up more of his time than he had any right to do。 It was he who
suggested the publication of my first scientific papera very
little onein the Medical Gazette of 1845； and most kindly
corrected the literary faults which abounded in it； short as it
was； for at that time； and for many years afterwards； I detested
the trouble of writing； and would take no pains over it。
It was in the early spring of 1846； that； having finished my
obligatory medical studies and passed the first M。 D。 examination
at the London University；though I was still too young to qualify
at the College of Surgeons；I was talking to a fellow…student （the
present eminent physician； Sir Joseph Fayrer）； and wondering what I
should do to meet the imperative necessity for earning my own
bread； when my friend suggested that I should write to Sir William
Burnett； at that time Director…General for the Medical Service of
the Navy； for an appointment。 I thought this rather a strong thing
to do； 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 acknowledgment； but at the
bottom there 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 accentand 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 inquiries 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 ＇9＇ old ship； the Victory； for duty at Haslar
Hospital； about a couple of months after I made my application。
My official chief at Haslar was a very remarkable person； the late
Sir John Richardson； an excellent naturalist； and far…famed as an
indomitable Arctic traveller。 He was a silent； reserved man；
outside the circle of his family and intimates； and； having a full
share of youthful vanity； I was extremely disgusted to find that
〃Old John；〃 as we irreverent youngsters called him； took not the
slightest notice of my worshipful self either the first time I
attended him； as it was my duty to do； or for some weeks
afterwards。 I am afraid to think of the lengths to which my tongue
may have run on the subject of the churlishness of the chief； who
was； in truth； one of the kindest…hearted and most considerate of
men。 But one day； as I was crossing the hospital square； Sir John
stopped me； and heaped coals of fire on my head by telling me that
he had tried to get me one