120 THE COMING [CH. 



tasks, that he was able to accomplish his great 

 undertakings. 



I do not think, however, that any unprejudiced 

 reader will regard Darwin's literary work as standing 

 in need of anything like an apology. He always 

 aims and I think succeeds at conveying his meaning 

 in simple and direct language ; and in all his works 

 there is manifest that undercurrent of quiet en- 

 thusiasm, which was so strikingly displayed in his 

 conversation. It was delightful to witness the keen 

 enjoyment with which he heard of any new fact or 

 observation bearing on the pursuits in which he was 

 engaged, and his generous nature always led him to 

 attach an exaggerated value to any discovery or 

 suggestion which might be brought to his knowledge 

 and to appraise the work of others above his own. 



The most striking proof of the excellence and 

 value of Darwin's literary work is the fact that his 

 numerous books have attained a circulation, in their 

 original form, probably surpassing that of any other 

 scientific writings ever produced and that, in trans- 

 lations, they have appealed to a wider circle of 

 readers than any previous naturalist has ever 

 addressed ! 



We have seen that the idea of Natural Selection 

 ' flashed on' Darwin's mind in October 1838, and 

 although he was himself inclined to think that his 

 complete satisfaction with it, as a solution of the 



