50 LIFE OF DARWIN. 



eventful voyage, not only because it filled an important 

 space in Darwin's life, but also because it undoubtedly 

 gave rise to the thoughts and speculations which impelled 

 him to devote his life to the study of problems of evolu- 

 tioa It has been shown to some extent, how he saw, 

 without pre-arrangement, just those phenomena which 

 could stimulate his mind, already fit, to its highest flights. 

 We have seen, too, how universal was Darwin's interest 

 in nature, and how sympathetic a heart went with his 

 scientific insight. He had yet to show how masterly was 

 his patience, to work for yet twenty years, in order that 

 he might not by premature publication of a crude theory 

 risk defeat and throw science backward rather than for- 

 ward. This long patient work was to be the triumph of 

 his genius. 



