Editing Development of Darwin's theory (section)

===Progressive reforms===
The Great Exhibition heralded the success of free trade and modern science in improving prosperity. There was a new appetite for liberal, progressive reforms. An alliance of thinkers began recasting nature as a competitive marketplace. ''The [[Westminster Review]]'' recently acquired by [[John Chapman (publisher)|John Chapman]] became their focus, and an early article by [[Herbert Spencer]] set out a Malthusian view that people who multiply beyond their means take "the high road to extinction", while "the select of their generation" remained to ensure progress. Spencer became a close friend and ally of [[Thomas Huxley]], an ambitious naturalist who had returned from a long survey trip but lacked the family wealth or contacts to find a career. Huxley had sent papers to Darwin which began a correspondence, and Darwin sent him a copy of the first volume of ''Barnacles'' when it was printed. Huxley called it an exemplary work, all the more remarkable for coming from a distinguished geologist rather than an anatomist.{{sfn|Desmond|Moore|1991|pp= 403–406}}

In recognition of his work on South American geology, invertebrate research and particularly his work on Barnacles, Darwin was awarded the Royal Medal of the [[Royal Society]] and received it at their meeting on 30 November 1853. The excitement brought back illness and he resumed the water treatment. This time it was successful and his health improved. He finished the second volume of ''Barnacles'', completing almost eight years of work which had made him the world's foremost authority on the subject.{{sfn|Desmond|Moore|1991|pp= 408–409}}

In the spring of 1854 he joined the [[Royal Society]]'s Philosophical Club, and he also became a Fellow of the [[Linnean Society of London]], gaining postal access to its library. To his surprise his stomach was not troubled and he greatly enjoyed visiting London regularly and meeting with the new generation of scientists, in particular [[John Tyndall]], Hooker and Huxley. Darwin supported them in gaining gold medals from the Society, saying that they would become "scientific giants" and he thought it only right that they should get the accolades to spur them on. Tyndall had taken the chair of natural philosophy at the [[Royal Institution]] in 1853 and was now helping Huxley run the science section of ''The [[Westminster Review]]''. Huxley began teaching at the [[Royal School of Mines]] in November, then "sick of the dilettante middle class" began his working men's lectures a year later, and Hooker settled into his post at [[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|Kew Gardens]].{{sfn|Desmond|Moore|1991|pp= 410–411}}{{sfn|Freeman|2007|pp=107, 109}}

Biology was becoming liberalised, even among some churchmen. The Reverend [[Baden Powell (mathematician)|Baden Powell]], a mathematics professor at the [[University of Oxford]], applied the theological argument that God is a lawgiver, miracles break the lawful edicts issued at Creation, therefore belief in miracles is atheistic.{{sfn|Desmond|Moore|1991|p= 412}}