WHAT LED TO THE WORK AND THE SUCCESS OF IT. 161 



Darwin and' Gray, a very real and close bond 'of friend- 

 ship grew. Evidently it was of the last importance to 

 Mr. Darwin that he should contrive to bring over to. the 

 doctrine of .propagation by descent three such established 

 and powerful authorities. Why, with their support, failure 

 was hardly to be feared. Asa Gray was, perhaps, the 

 botantist and naturalist of America. Hooker, the son of 

 the illustrious Sir William Hooker of Glasgow and Kew, 

 was himself, though young, already a botanical potentate 

 even as his father was. And as for Lyell, his name alone 

 exacted the homage of every man of education, whether 

 at home or abroad. If we find, then, Mr. Darwin straining 

 every nerve to win these men, surely it will be impossible 

 to think that it was, in the circumstances, other than 

 natural and unavoidable. There is abundant expression 

 to this effect in his correspondence with all three ; and 

 with whatever expression let it even seem extravagant 

 at times there goes always sincerity. Disinterested 

 testimony of this is amply at hand throughout the three 

 volumes which the son, Mr. Francis, edits. His deep 

 respect and esteem for Mr. A. R Wallace, Darwin takes 

 lavish occasion to make known almost to every corre- 

 spondent ; while, as for the others, what again he writes to 

 Mr. Wallace alone is ample proof of his loyalty to them. 

 Thus in one letter (ii. 310) he says: "Asa Gray fights 

 like a hero in defence ; Lyell keeps as firm as a tower, 

 and this autumn will publish, and then declare his con- 

 version, which is now universally known ; I hope that 

 you have received Hooker's splendid essay." At another 

 time he refers (ii 109) to "the almost preternatural 

 sagacity of Lyell," or declares (il 146), that he looks 

 on Hooker " as by far the most capable judge in 

 Europe." 



Mr. Darwin is to be found at times naming Dr. 

 Carpenter as one of those to whom he owes most; and 



