1870.] SOUTH AMERICAN MISSION. 1 27 



1 



gone a tour in Switzerland. I had never heard a word about 

 the success of the T. del Fuego mission. It is most wonderful, 

 and shames me, as I always prophesied utter failure. It is a 

 grand success. I shall feel proud if your Committee think fit 

 to elect me an honorary member of your society. With 

 all good wishes and affectionate remembrances of ancient 

 days, 



Believe me, my dear Sulivan, 



Your sincere friend, 



Ch. Darwin. 



[My father's connection with the South American Mission, 

 which is referred to in the above letter, has given rise to some 

 public comment, and has been to some extent misunder- 

 stood. The Archbishop of Canterbury, speaking at the 

 annual meeting of the South American Missionary Society, 

 April 2 1st, 1885,* said that the Society " drew the attention 

 of Charles Darwin, and made him, in his pursuit of the 

 wonders of the kingdom of nature, realise that there was 

 another kingdom just as wonderful and more lasting." 

 Some discussion on the subject appeared in the Daily News 

 of April 23rd, 24th, 29th, 1885, and finally Admiral Sir 

 James Sulivan, on April 24th, wrote to the same journal, 

 giving a clear account of my father's connection with the 

 Society : — 



" Your article in the Daily News of yesterday induces me 

 to give you a correct statement of the connection between the 

 South American Missionary Society and Mr. Charles Darwin, 

 my old friend and shipmate for five years. I have been 

 closely connected with the Society from the time of Captain 

 Allen Gardiner's death, and Mr. Darwin had often expressed 

 to me his conviction that it was utterly useless to send 

 Missionaries to such a set of savages as the Fuegians, prob- 



* I quote a ' Leaflet,' published by the Society. 



