1870-1871] The Accursed Little Go 207 



late you with all my heart at having so noble a husband. 

 What an admirable address, and how well written. Even 

 YOU, Miss Rhadamanthus, 1 could not have improved a 

 word. It is as superior to all ordinary addresses, as one of 

 the old Buccaneer voyages are to modern travels. Good- 

 bye, dearest; keep quiet. Good-bye. 



Yours affect., 



C. DARWIN. 



Charles Darwin to his son Horace. 



6, QUEEN ANNE STREET, 

 Friday Morning, 8.30 A.M. [Dec. 15, 1871]. 



MY DEAR HORACE, 



We are so rejoiced, for we have just had a card from 

 that good George in Cambridge saying that you are all 

 right and safe through the accursed Little Go. I am so 

 glad, and now you can follow the bent of your talents and 

 work as hard at Mathematics and Science as your health 

 will permit. I have been speculating last night what makes 

 a man a discoverer of undiscovered things; and a most 

 perplexing problem it is. Many men who are very clever 

 much cleverer than the discoverers never originate any- 

 thing. As far as I can conjecture the art consists in 

 habitually searching for the causes and meaning of every- 

 thing which occurs. This implies sharp observation, and 

 requires as much knowledge as possible of the subject 

 investigated. But why I write all this now I hardly know 

 except out of the fulness of my heart; for I do rejoice 

 heartily that you have passed this Charybdis. 



Your affectionate Father, 



C. DARWIN. 



1 Khadamanthus Minor was a nickname Mr Huxley gave me. 



