668 TRAVEL IN EUROPE AND AMERICA. [1877, 



the " improvement " out of their sphere of these would 

 leave, and the increased risks which complicated struc- 

 ture (in machines or beings) has to run, we shall not 

 wonder that the simple still numerically predominate. 



TO CHARLES DARWEST. 



CAMBRIDGE, June 10, 1877. 



MY DEAR MR. DARWIN, Except when you are 

 to be aided in your work I decline to give letters of 

 introduction to you, knowing how you are occupied 

 and how infirm your health at any time may be. So 

 please take this note to mean just this. The happy 

 couple who bear it would be delighted to call some 

 day, if you say so, and pay their respects to you, and 

 I will tell you why I am disposed to promote their 

 wishes. 



Mr. Burgess l was a favorite pupil of mine, and is 

 a young naturalist of much promise ; not in my de- 

 partment, however, but in entomology. He takes par- 

 ticularly to the anatomy of insects, draws capitally, 

 and shows talent for research, which we trust will 

 bring forth good fruit. I cannot blame him if his 

 modesty and caution have kept him back from publi- 

 cation as yet, but he has time before him, and even a 

 sight of you will be a stimulus to his ambition as well 

 as something to remember in after years. I need not 

 say that he takes to Evolution ; all young naturalists 

 of any good do. He has just married the daughter 

 of my dear old friend, the late Mr. Sullivant, who 

 did for muscology in this country more than one 

 man is likely ever to do again. The young lady is 

 very dear to your good friend Mrs. Gray and to me ; 

 and, as you have more than once made a remark com- 



1 The afterwards famous designer of yachts. 



