486 LETTERS TO DARWIN AND OTHERS. [1862, 



Nature, you may be confident that he has had some- 

 thing to do with the " contrivances " in your orchids. 



I have just received and glanced at Bentham's ad- 

 dress, and am amused to see how your beautiful flank 

 movement with the Orchid book has nearly overcome 

 his opposition to the " Origin." 



The military simile above leads me to speak of 

 your wonder that I can think of science at all in the 

 midst of war. Well, first, we get used to it. Second, 

 we need something to turn to, and happy are they who, 

 forbidden to engage personally in the war (as I am 

 ever itching to do), have something to turn to. Third, 

 I do not do much, do nothing, in fact, except my col- 

 lege duties now for months, and that is the reason I 

 have time to write to you, and be interested in all your 

 doings. 



If you suppose everything is paralyzed and desolate 

 here, and the country greatly put back, read a very 

 sensible letter of an Englishman in the " Spectator " of 

 June 7. It is very just and true. We shall recuper- 

 ate fast enough, and be better off than ever, as much 

 prosperity as is good for us, and more solid, more in- 

 dependent, more self-contained, which is our great de- 

 sideratum. Free trade be bio wed ; we must needs 

 have high duties on imports, and it is better that we 

 should. By these and by direct taxes the tax-bill 

 just passed we shall have to pay over largely. Very 

 well. 



Just at present our prospects (viz., evening of July 

 3) are looking badly enough. McClellan has clearly 

 been overmatched and driven to the wall, after very 

 obstinate fighting, with very heavy loss on both sides. 

 Whether it is retrievable with reinforcements, or 

 whether the whole campaign has to be begun again 



