CHAPTER IV. 



DR. ERASMUS DARWIN. 



IT is not, of course, in contemplation to write the life of 

 Dr. Darwin here, but only to signalise such traits in 

 connection therewith as may prove illustrative on the 

 general theme. It is still worth while knowing, how- 

 ever, that, born in 1731, Dr. Erasmus died in 1802, 

 when he was in his seventy-first year. He was twice 

 married. His first wife, wedded in 1757 when she was 

 only eighteen, he being twenty-six, died in 1770. His 

 second wife, a rich and beautiful widow, he married in 

 1781, he being fifty and she thirty-four. But, in the 

 interval of eleven years, it seems to be said that he 

 had two illegitimate children. Of the five legitimate 

 children spoken of to at least some of them he seems, 

 as a father, to have been at times harsh and unjust. 

 Charles appears almost even to resent as much in his 

 own father's reference, that of Dr. E. W., and the 

 reader may still have in mind the difficulty with Miss 

 Seward, as concerns the son who is supposed to have 

 committed suicide. To that son, Erasmus, Charles 

 himself says that Dr. Darwin " was not always kind ; " 

 while to Dr. E. W., " he acted in his youth harshly, 

 imperiously, and not always justly." He must be 

 allowed to have had at least the family pride in his 

 children, for he is at the expense of publishing certain 



