402 GROWTH OF THE 'ORIGIN.' [1854. 



You do me really more honour than I have any claim to, 

 putting me in after Lyell on ups and downs. In a year or 

 two's time, when I shall be at my species book (if I do not 

 break down), I shall gnash my teeth and abuse you for having 

 put so many hostile facts so confoundedly well. 



Ever yours affectionately, 



C. Darwin. 



C. Darwin to J. D. Hooker. 



Down, March 26th [1854]. 



My dear Hooker, — I had hoped that you would have 

 had a little breathing-tim.e after your Journal, but this seems 

 to be very far from the case ; and I am the more obliged 

 (and somewhat contrite) for the long letter received this 

 morning, 7nosf juicy with news and most interesting to me in 

 many ways. I am very glad indeed to hear of the reforms, 

 &c., in the Royal Society. With respect to the Club,* I am 

 deeply interested ; only two or three days ago, I was regret- 

 ting to my wife, how I was letting drop and being dropped 

 by nearly all my acquaintances, and that I would endeavour 

 to go oftener to London ; I was not then thinking of the Club, 

 which, as far as any one thing goes, would answer my exact 

 object in keeping up old and making some new acquaintances. 



* The Philosophical Club, to which my father was elected (as Professor 

 Bonney is good enough to inform me) on April 24, 1854. He resigned his 

 membership in 1864. The CUib was founded in 1847. The number of 

 members being limited to 47, it was proposed to christen it " the Club of 

 47," but the name was never adopted. The nature of the Club may be 

 gathered from its first rule : " The purpose of the Club is to promote as much 

 as possible the scientific objects of the Royal Society ; to facilitate inter- 

 course between those Fellows who are actively engaged in cultivating the 

 various branches of Natural Science, and who have contributed to its prog- 

 ress ; to increase the attendance at the evening meetings, and to encour- 

 age the contribution and discussion of papers." The Club met for dinner 

 (at first) at 6, and the chair was to be quitted at 8.15, it being expected that 

 members would go to the Royal Society. Of late years the dinner has 

 been at 6.30, the Society meeting in the afternoon. 



