256 EVOLUTION [Chap. IV 



Letter 180 In forming an estimate of the value and extent of Mr. 

 Darwin's researches, due regard ought to be had to the 

 circumstances under which they have been carried out — a 

 pressure of unremitting disease, which has latterly left him 

 not more than one or two hours of the day which he could 

 call his own. 



Letter 181 To Hugh Falconer. 



Down, Nov. 4th [ 1864I. 



What a good kind friend you are ! I know well that this 

 medal must have cost you a deal of trouble. It is a very 

 great honour to me, but I declare the knowledge that you 

 and a few other friends have interested themselves on the 

 subject is the real cream of the enjoyment to me ; indeed, it 

 is to me worth far more than many medals. So accept my 

 true and cordial thanks. I hope that I may yet have strength 

 to do a little more work in Natural Science, shaky and old 

 though I be. I have chuckled and triumphed over your 



crafty phrase injurious to Darwin should be introduced. My suspicions 

 were justified, the only part of the address [relating] to Darwin written 

 by Sabine himself containing the following passage : 



" ' Speaking generally and collectively, we have expressly omitted it 

 [Darwin's theory] from the grounds of our award.' 



" Of course this would be interpreted by everybody as meaning 

 that, after due discussion, the council had formally resolved not only 

 to exclude Darwin's theory from the grounds of the award, but to give 

 public notice through the president that they had done so, and, 

 furthermore, that Darwin's friends had been base enough to accept an 

 honour for him on the understanding that in receiving it he should 

 be publicly insulted ! 



" I felt that this would never do, and therefore, when the resolution 

 for printing the address was moved, I made a speech, which I took care 

 to keep perfectly cool and temperate, disavowing all intention of inter- 

 fering with the liberty of the president to say what he pleased, but 

 exercising my constitutional right of requiring the minutes of council 

 making the award to be read, in order that the Society might be 

 informed whether the conditions implied by Sabine had been imposed 

 or not. 



" The resolution was read, and of course nothing of the kind 

 appeared. Sabine didn't exactly like it, I believe. Both Busk and 

 Falconer remonstrated against the passage to him, and I hope it will 

 be withdrawn when the address is printed. If not, there will be an 

 awful row, and I for one will show no mercy." 



