18441858] ROYAL SOCIETY 79 



hardly be expected : it has given me even a higher opinion Letter 37 

 than I before had, of the variety and polish of his intellect. 

 It is, indeed, an irreparable loss to London natural history 

 society. I wish, however, he would not praise so much that 

 old brown dry stick Jameson. Altogether, to my taste, it is 

 much the best introductory lecture I have ever read. I hear 

 his anniversary address is very good. 



Adios, my dear Hooker ; do be wise and good, and be 

 careful of your stomach, within which, as I know full well, lie 

 intellect, conscience, temper, and the affections. 



To J. D. Hooker. Letter 38 



Down, Dec. 2nd [1854]. 



You are a pretty fellow to talk of funking the returning 

 thanks at the dinner for the medal. 1 I heard that it was 

 decidedly the best speech of the evening, given " with 

 perfect fluency, distinctness, and command of language," and 

 that you showed great self-possession : was the latter the 

 proverbially desperate courage of a coward ? But you are 

 a pretty fellow to be so desperately afraid and then to make 

 the crack speech. Many such an ordeal may you have to 

 go through ! I do not know whether Sir William [Hooker] 

 would be contented with Lord Rosse's 2 speech on giving 

 you the medal ; but I am very much pleased with it, and 

 really the roll of what you have done was, I think, splendid. 

 What a great pity he half spoiled it by not having taken the 

 trouble just to read it over first. Poor Hofmann 3 came off 

 in this respect even worse. It is really almost arrogant 

 insolence against every one not an astronomer. 



The next morning I was at a very pleasant breakfast 

 party at Sir R. Inglis's. 4 I have received, with very many 

 thanks, the aberrant genera ; but I have not had time to 

 consider them, nor your remarks on Australian botanical 

 geography. 



1 The Royal medal was given to Sir Joseph in 1854. 



2 President of the Royal Society 1848-54. 



3 August Wilhelm Hofmann, the other medallist of 1854. 



4 Sir Robert Inglis, President of the British Association in 1847. 

 Apparently Darwin was present at the afternoon meeting, but not at the 

 dinner. 



