ch. iv.] REMINISCENCES. 107 



Angelo is nothing to it." Though he praised so generous- 

 ly, he always looked closely at the drawing, and easily de- 

 tected mistakes or carelessness. 



He had a horror of being lengthy, and seems to have 

 been really much annoyed and distressed when he found 

 how the Variations of Animals and Plants was growing 

 under his hands. I remember his cordially agreeing with 

 ' Tristram Shandy's ' words, " Let no man say, ' Come, I'll 

 write a duodecimo.' " 



His consideration for other authors was as marked a 

 characteristic as his tone towards his reader. He speaks of 

 all other authors as persons deserving of respect. In cases 



where, as in the case of 's experiments on Drosera, he 



thought lightly of the author, he speaks of him in such a 

 w r ay that no one would suspect it. In other cases he treats 

 the confused writings of ignorant persons as though the 

 fault lay with himself for not appreciating or understand- 

 ing them. Besides this general tone of respect, he had a 

 pleasant way of expressing his opinion on the value of a 

 quoted work, or his obligation for a piece of private infor- 

 mation. 



His respectful feeling was not only admirable, but was I 

 think of practical use in making him ready to consider the 

 ideas and observations of all manner of people. He used 

 almost to apologise for this, and would say that he was at 

 first inclined to rate everything too highly. 



It was a great merit in his mind that, in spite of having 

 so strong a respectful feeling towards what he read, he had 

 the keenest of instincts as to whether a man was trust- 

 worthy or not. He seemed to form a very definite opinion 

 as to the accuracy of the men whose books he read ; and 

 employed this judgment in his choice of facts for use in 

 argument or as illustrations.- I gained the impression that 

 he felt this power of judging of a man's trustworthiness to 

 be of much value. 



He had a keen feeling: of the sense of honour that ousfht 

 to reign among authors, and had a horror of any kind of 

 laxness in quoting. He had a contempt for the love of 

 honour and glory, and in his letters often blames him- 

 self for the pleasure he took in the success of his books, as 

 though he were departing from his ideal a love of truth 

 and carelessness about fame. Often, when writing to Sir 

 J. Hooker what he calls a boasting letter, he laughs at 

 himself for his conceit and want of modesty. A wonder- 



