tributed his share to the great questions which agitated
the public not only by service on Commissions, but by delivering a
large number of public addresses and writing a large number of essays
on topics of special interest. Much of his work on scientific,
educational, and general subjects took its first shape in the form of
addresses given to some public audience. University audiences in
England, Scotland, and America were familiar to him, and from time to
time he addressed large gatherings of a mixed character. But probably
his favourite audience was composed of working men, and he had the
greatest respect for the intelligence and sympathy of hearers who like
himself passed the greater portion of their time in hard work.
Professor Howes, his pupil, friend, and successor, writes of him:

"He gave workmen of his best. The substance of _Man's Place in
Nature_, one of the most successful and popular of his writings,
and of his _Crayfish_, perhaps the most perfect zooelogical
treatise ever published, was first communicated to them. In one
of the last communications I had with him, I asked his views as
to the desirability of discontinuing the workmen's lectures at
Jermyn Street, since the development of workmen's colleges and
institutes was regarded by some as rendering their continuance
unnecessary. He replied, almost with indignation, 'With our
central situation and resources we ought to be in a position to
give the workmen that which they cannot get elsewhere,' adding
that he would deeply deplore any such discontinuance."

Huxley had no natural facility for speech. He tells us that at first
he disliked it, and that he had a firm conviction that he would break
down every time he opened his mouth. The only two possible faults of a
public speaker which he believed himself to be without, were "talking
at random and indulging in rhetoric." With practice, he lost this
earlier hesitancy, and before long became known as one of the finest
speakers of his time. Certain natural gifts aided him; his well-set
figure and strong features, of which the piercing eyes and firm,
trap-like mouth were the most striking, riveted attention, while his
voice had a wide range and was beautifully modulated. But it was above
all things the matter and not the manner of his speech that commanded
success. He cared little or nothing for the impression he might
make--everything for the ideas w