1844— 1858] LARGE GENERA 105 



But on classification ' I am not quite sure that I yet wholly Letter 59 

 go with you, though I agree with every word you have here 

 said. The whole, I repeat, in my opinion is admirable and 

 excellent. 



To J. D. Hooker. Letter 60 



Down, Feb. 2Sth [1858]. 



Hearty thanks for De Candolle received. I have put the 

 big genera in hand. Also many thanks for your valuable 

 remarks on the affinities of the species in great genera, which 

 will be of much use to me in my chapter on classification. 

 Your opinion is what I had expected from what little I knew, 

 but I much wanted it confirmed, and many of your remarks 

 were more or less new to me and all of value. 



You give a poor picture of the philosophy of Botany. 

 From my ignorance, I suppose, I can hardly persuade myself 

 that things are quite as bad as you make them, — you might 

 have been writing remarks on Ornithology! I shall meditate 

 much on your remarks, which will also come in very useful 

 when I write and consider my tables of big and small genera. 

 I grieve for myself to say that Watson agrees with your view, 

 but with much doubt. I gave him no guide what your 

 opinion was. I have written to A. Gray and to X., who — - 

 i.e. the latter — on this point may be looked at as S. Smith's 

 Foolometer. 



I am now working several of the large local Floras, with 

 leaving out altogether all the smallest genera. When I have 

 done this, and seen what the sections of the largest genera 

 say, and seen what the results are of range and commonness 

 of varying species, I must come to some definite conclusion 

 whether or not entirely to give up the ghost. I shall then 

 show how my theory points, how the facts stand, then state 

 the nature of your grievous assault and yield entirely or 

 defend the case as far as I can honestly. 



Again I thank you for your invaluable assistance. I have 

 not felt the blow [Hooker's criticisms] so much of late, as 

 I have been beyond measure interested on the constructive 

 instinct of the hive-bee. Adios, you terrible worrier of poor 

 theorists ! 



1 This probably refers to Mr. Huxley's discussion on " Natural Classi- 

 fication," a subject hardly susceptible of fruitful treatment except from an 

 evolutionary standpoint. 



