l88l.] SIR JOSEPH HOOKER'S ADDRESS. 249 



navia, that there had apparently been long periods with more 

 rain and other with less rain (perhaps connected with Croll's 

 recurrent astronomical periods), and that these periods had 

 largely determined the present distribution of the plants of 

 Norway and Sweden. This seemed to me a very important 

 essay. 



I have just read over my remarks and I fear that they will 

 not be of the slightest use to you. 



I cannot but think that you have got through the hardest, 

 or at least the most difficult, part of your work in having made 

 so good and striking a sketch of what you intend to say ; 

 but I can quite understand how you must groan over the 

 great necessary labour. 



I most heartily sympathise with you on the successes of 

 B. and R. : as years advance what happens to oneself 

 becomes of very little consequence, in comparison with the 

 careers of our children. 



Keep your spirits up, for I am convinced that you will 

 make an excellent address. 



Ever yours affectionately, 



Charles Darwin. 



[In September he wrote : — 



" I have this minute finished reading your splendid but 

 too short address. I cannot doubt that it will have been 

 fully appreciated by the Geographers at York ; if not, they 

 are asses and fools."] 



C. Darwin to John Lubbock. 



Sunday evening [1881]. 



My DEAR L., — Your address * has made me think over 

 what have been the great steps in Geology during the last 

 fifty years, and there can be no harm in telling you my im- 

 pression. But it is very odd that I cannot remember what 



* Presidential Address at the York Meeting of the British Association. 



