l88i.] VIVISECTION. 385 



" The secretary of the Royal Society for the Prevention of 

 Cruelty to Animals, when asked whether the general tendency 

 of the scientific world in this country is at variance with 

 humanity, says he believes it to be very different, indeed, 

 from that of foreign physiologists ; and while giving it as the 

 opinion of the society that experiments are performed which 

 are in their nature beyond any legitimate province of science, 

 and that the pain which they inflict is pain which it is not 

 justifiable to inflict even for the scientific object in view, he 

 readily acknowledges that he does not know a single case of 

 wanton cruelty, and that in general the English physiologists 

 have used anaesthetics where they think they can do so with 

 safety to the experiment." 



I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 



Charles Darwin. 



April 21. 



[In the Times of Saturday, April 23, i88t, appeared a 

 letter from Miss Cobbe in reply :] 



C. Darwt'ji to G. J. Romanes, 



Down, April 25, 1881. 



My dear Romanes, — I was very glad to read your last 

 note with much news interesting to me. But I write now to 

 say how I, and indeed all of us in the house have admired 

 your letter in the Times* It was so simple and direct. I was 

 particularly glad about Burton Sanderson, of whom I have 

 been for several years a great admirer. I was also especially 

 glad to read the last sentences. I have been bothered with 

 several letters, but none abusive. Under a selfish point of 

 view I am very glad of the publication of your letter, as I 

 was at first inclined to think that I had done mischief by 

 stirring up the mud. Now I feel sure that I have done good. 

 Mr. Jesse has written to me very politely, he says his Society 

 has had nothing to do with placards and diagrams against 



* April 25, 1881. — Mr. Romanes defended Dr. Sanderson against the 

 accusations made by Miss Cobbe. 



41 



