100 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



cousin, Miss Emma Wedgwood, their family consisting of five 

 sons and two daughters. His son, Mr. Francis Darwin, latterly 

 acted as his father's literary secretary and almost constant 

 companion. He also bids fair to continue to a fourth generation 

 that scientific ability which has characterised his ancestors. 



In personal habits Mr. Darwin was of the simplest, retiring 

 to rest at ten, and up at five to his beloved work. He seldom 

 left the grounds surrounding his house even for a stroll in the 

 adjoining village. His modesty was such that he never seemed 

 to realise that he had done great or exceptional work. Scientific 

 honours, of course, came thick and numerous. He was a Fellow 

 of the Eoyal and Linnean Societies, and either honorary or 

 corresponding member of nearly every leading scientific society 

 in the world. He was an original member of the Entomological 

 Society of London. But it seems disappointing that in his own 

 country his ability was never recognised by title or distinction 

 from his sovereign, although, after all, this might have been 

 distasteful to one of such simple tastes. 



The Linnean Society is to be congratulated upon having 

 obtained the last, and fortunately the best, portrait of Mr. 

 Darwin, which is painted in oil by Mr. John Collier, and only 

 completed a few weeks ago. It will probably be hung in this 

 year's Academy Exhibition, and is altogether a most pleasing 

 likeness. 



Born at Shrewsbury, February 12th, 1809, Mr. Darwin died 

 at his residence at Down, near Beckenham, Kent, April 19th, 1882, 

 in the 74th year of his age. His death was sudden and somewhat 

 unexpected. It was known that he had long suffered from weak 

 action of the heart, but he was engaged at his favourite studies 

 even up to the day before he died, and remained quite conscious 

 up to within a quarter of an hour of the time when he closed 

 his long and memorable life as peacefully as if in sleep. So 

 ended the career of a man who in future generations will be 

 compared with the greatest minds, even to Socrates and the 

 oldest philosophers. 



J T C 



April 20th, 1882. 



P.S. — Since writing the foregoing it has been decided that 

 Mr. Darwin shall be buried in Westminster Abbey, where will 

 be conducted a funeral of the greatest simplicity. His resting- 



