478 LETTERS TO DARWIN AND OTHERS. [1862, 



Her former message did not refer to Boott (though 

 he is unfortunately influenced by longitude ; but is a 

 Yankee born), nor to Hooker, who, Gallio fashion, 

 cares for none of these things ; thinks us unwise for 

 fighting, I presume ; but we perfectly agree to say 

 nothing about such matters. It is odd that you all 

 fail to appreciate that it is simply a struggle for ex- 

 istence on our part, and that men will persist in think- 

 ing their existence of some consequence to themselves, 

 though you prove the contrary ever so plain ; and will 

 strike or grasp or kick, right and left, in an undigni- 

 fied way sometimes ; which the safe and sound by- 

 stander, coolly looking on, may not appreciate, not 

 sharing his feelings, telling him the world will get on 

 quite as well without him ; yet he somehow does not 

 quite like it. 



March 6. 



I have your note of February 16, about Melasto- 

 macea3. The test of a good theory is said to be its 

 power of predicting. If your speculations lead you 

 to predict the style curved to one side in Melastoma- 

 cese, and the prediction is verified, that will be a great 

 matter in your favor. Why, you are coming out so 

 strong in final causes that they should make a D. D. 

 of you at Cambridge ! 



I shall be pleased if I can help you about Rhexia. 

 R. Virginica grows not far from here, and I will set to 

 watching it next summer. But I fear it may not help 

 you, as it is stated in our "Flora of North America" 

 to have " anthers uniform." I see, however, the 

 phrase, " style somewhat declined," in the character ; 

 which must be looked to. The character was drawn 

 wholly from dried specimens. I have good details from 



