41 



** The sole object of this work is to consider whether man like 

 eveiy other species is descended from some pre-existing form. 

 2ndly — the manner of his development ; and 3rdly — the value 

 of the differences between the so-called races of man." Again, 

 Ije says — " It has often been said that man's origin can never be 

 known : but ignorance more frequently begets confidence than 

 does knowledge ; it is those who know little and not those who 

 know much who so positively assert that this or that problem 

 will never be solved by science." It took him three years to 

 write this work ; it did not create the same excitement that the 

 "Origin" did. His book on the Expressions of the Emotions 

 was begun immediately after finishing " Man," and was com- 

 piled from notes he had made all his life to some extent, and from 

 enquiries. The work required much correspondence, not only 

 with Missionaries and those living amongst savages, to whom he 

 sent printed enquiries, but also with physiologists and physicians. 

 In 1874 he was engaged on " Insectivorous Plants." He has 

 also written on " Movements of Climbing Plants." 



The impression one gets after reading Mr. Darwin's life and 

 reading his letters is, that he was a man of simple habits and 

 tastes, of very lovable nature, and kind and generous to a degree. 

 He seems to have been constantly observing Uttle things which 

 had previously passed unnoticed, everything was carefully noted, 

 and all his observations seem to tend in one direction, viz. that 

 of Evolution, not only of species of animals but of plants. His 

 great idea seems to have been that nature is constantly changing, 

 and one slightly different type is constantly being formed from 

 another. 



The bulk of his letters are to Sir Jos. Hooker, Sir Charles 

 Lyell and Prof. Huxley, with whom he was on terms of very 

 intimate friendship. In his letters to them he discusses details 

 of theories, observations, and manner of writing. 



This account cannot be complete without mentioning that 

 he was a member of nearly all the chief learned societies in the 

 world. He had honorary degrees from four Universities. Two 

 medals, the Royal and the Copley from the Royal Society, and 

 one, the WoUaston medal, from the Geological Society. 



When he died there was a letter sent to the Dean of West- 

 minster, signed by 20 Members of Parliament, asking for him to 

 be buried in Westminster Abbey, and he was there buried on 

 the 26th of April, 1882, the pall-bearers being Sir John Lubbock, 

 Mr. Huxley, Mr J. R. Lowell, (American Minister,) Mr. A. R. 

 Wallace, Duke of Devonshire, Canon Farrar, Sir Joseph Hooker, 

 Mr. Wm. Spottiswoode, Pres. R. S., Earl of Derby, Duke of 

 Argyle. 



