192 EVOLUTION, OLD AND NEW. 



" Mrs. Pole, it has already been remarked, had much 

 vivacity and sportive humour, with very engaging 

 frankness of temper and manners. Early in her 

 widowhood she was rallied in a large company upon 

 Dr. Darwin's passion for her, and was asked what she 

 would do with her captive philosopher. ' He is not 

 very fond of churches, I believe/ said she, ' and even if 

 he would go there for my sake, I shall scarcely follow 

 him. He is too old for me.' * Nay, Madam,' was the 

 answer, ' what are fifteen years on the right side ? ' 

 She replied, with an arch smile, ' I have had so much of 

 that right side.' 



" This confession was thought inauspicious for the 

 doctor's hopes, but it did not prove so. The triumph 

 of intellect was complete." * 



Mrs. Pole had taken a strong dislike to Lichfield, 

 and had made it a condition of her marriage that 

 Dr. Darwin should not reside there after he had 

 married her. In 1781, therefore, immediately after his 

 marriage, he removed to Derby, and continued to live 

 there till a fortnight before his death. 



Here he wrote 'The Botanic Garden' and a great 

 part of the ' Zoonomia.' Those who wish for a detailed 

 analysis of ' The Botanic Garden ' can hardly do better 

 than turn to Miss Seward's pages. Opening them at 

 random, I find the following : 



" The mention of Brindley, the father of commercial 



canals, has propriety as well as happiness. Similitude 



for their course to the sinuous track of a serpent, 



produces a fine picture of a gliding animal of that 



* ' Memoirs,' &c., p. 149. 



