204 MISCELLANEA. [1875. 



C. Darwin to J. D. Hooker. 



Down, April 14 [1875]. 

 My DEAR HOOKER. — I worked all the time in London on 

 the vivisection question ; and we now think it advisable to go 

 further than a mere petition. Litchfield* drew up a sketch 

 of a Bill, the essential features of which have been approved 

 by Sanderson, Simon and Huxley, and from conversation, 

 will, I believe, be approved by Paget, and almost certainly, I 

 think, by Michael Foster. Sanderson, Simon and Paget wish 

 me to see Lord Derby, and endeavour to gain his advocacy 

 with the Home Secretary. Now, if this is carried into effect, 

 it will be of great importance to me to be able to say that the 

 Bill in its essential features has the approval of some half- 

 dozen eminent scientific men. I have therefore asked 

 Litchfield to enclose a copy to you in its first rough form ; 

 and if it is not essentially modified, may I say that it meets 

 with your approval as President of the Royal Society ? The 

 object is to protect animals, and at the same time not to 

 injure Physiology, and Huxley and Sanderson's approval 

 almost suffices on this head. Pray let me have a line from 

 you soon. 



Yours affectionately, 



Charles Darwin. 



[The Physiological Society, which was founded in 1876, was 

 in some measure the outcome of the anti-vivisection move- 

 ment, since it was this agitation which impressed on Physiolo- 

 gists the need of a centre for those engaged in this particular 

 branch of science. With respect to the Society, my father 

 wrote to Mr. Romanes (May 29, 1876) : — 



" I was very much gratified by the wholly unexpected 

 honour of being elected one of the Honorary Members. 

 This mark of sympathy has pleased me to a very high 

 degree." 



* Mr. R. B. Litchfield, his son-in-law. 



