188 GROWTH OF THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES, [ch. x. 



would say). After describing a set of forms as distinct 

 species, tearing up my MS., and making them one species, 

 tearing that up and making them separate, and then mak- 

 ing them one again (which has happened to me), I have 

 gnashed my teeth, cursed species, and asked what sin I had 

 committed to be so punished. But I must confess that per- 

 haps nearly the same thing would have happened to me on 

 any scheme of work. 



C. D. to J. D. Booker. Down, March 26th [1854]. 



My dear Hooker. I had hoped that you would have 

 had a little breathing- time after your Journal,* but this seems 

 to be very far from the case ; and I am the more obliged 

 (and somewhat contrite) for the long letter received this 

 morning, most juicy with news and most interesting to me 

 in many ways. I am very glad indeed to hear of the re- 

 forms, &c, in the Royal Society. With respect to the Club,f 

 I am deeply interested ; only two or three days ago, I was 

 regretting to my wife, how I was letting drop and being 

 dropped by nearly all my acquaintances, and that I would 

 endeavour to go of tener to London ; I was not then think- 

 ing of the Club, which, as far as one thing goes, would an- 

 swer my exact object in keeping up old and making some 

 new acquaintances. I will therefore come up to London 

 for every (with rare exceptions) Club-day, and then my 

 head, I think, will allow me on an average to go to every 

 other meeting. But it is grievous how often any change 

 knocks me up. I will further pledge myself, as I told 

 Lyell, to resign after a year, if I did not attend pretty often, 

 so that I should at worst encumber the Club temporarily. 

 If you can get me elected, I certainly shall be very much 



* Sir Joseph Hooker's Himalayan, Journal. 



t The Philosophical Club, to which my father was elected (as Professor 

 Bonney is good enough to inform me) on April 24, 1854. He resigned his 

 membership in 1864. The club was founded in 1847. The number of mem- 

 bers being limited to 47, it was proposed to christen it " the Club of 47," but 

 the name was never adopted. The nature of the Club may be gathered from 

 its first rule : u The purpose of the Club is to promote as much as possible 

 the scientific objects of the Royal Society : to facilitate intercourse between 

 those Fellows who are actively engaged in cultivating the various branches 

 of Natural Science, and who have contributed to its progress ; to increase 

 the attendance at the evening meetings, and to encourage the contribution 

 and discussion of papers." The Club met for dinner at 6, and the chair was- 

 to be quitted at 8.15, it being expected that members would go to the Royal 

 Society. Of late years the dinner has been at 6.30, the Society meeting in 

 the afternoon. 



