74 1860-1865 : PEESONAL 



Another character study is in reply to one of Darwin's 

 appeals for help to a clever young man who had submitted 

 some original observations to him. 



I am afraid A.B. is a man who cannot be helped ... he 

 is one of those men whom love of knowledge makes to forget 

 that man is not born for self alone, or rather, that the only 

 way of serving self effectually is to do it by proxy, and make 

 yourself a useful self-supporting member of society. The 

 man frankly says ' 1 am fit for nothing but what " won't 

 pay," this is the world's fault, not mine.' A love of science, 

 however pure, may be practically as selfish a love as any vice. 

 A.B. should have been born to £1000 a year and no ties 

 domestic, social or territorial — in short should not be called 

 upon to take his part in the ' struggle for life.' I have known 

 many such — most amongst artists — next most amongst 

 scientific young men. No one such ever succeeded, even 

 in science, and depend upon it after 10 years A.B. would 

 be as used up as a man of science as he now is as a man of 

 mental energy. 



lyndall, Faraday, Huxley, Graham, Lindley, &c. all 

 began by establishing themselves as useful self-supporting 

 members of Society, and, that accomplished, they gradually 

 shook off the disagreeable work as they took on science. 

 A.B. has not established himself as a useful member of 

 society, knows it, owns it, and blames the world for it. Now, 

 my dear Darwin, you may depend on it, that such men are 

 no more able to cut a figure in science than in life — useful 

 drudges for a time they may be and are, gradually the 

 feeling grows that their drudgery is other men's fame and 

 bread, and they become pestilent fellows. My dear old 

 friend, my heart sinks sometimes, and I could cry like a 

 child, when appeals for charity come to me from cases to 

 which I must apply your theory in all its force, and come 

 to the conclusion that in giving I am hastening the fall. 



As regards letters which reveal the personal affection 

 and happy intimacy with Darwin, one of the very best is 

 unfortunately missing. It is the letter written to Darwin 

 when the proposal to award him the Copley Medal in 1863 

 failed. Only Darwin's reply is given in M.L. ii. 338. ■ Your 



