THE WEDGWOOD WAKE HOBBY 77 



It was during this period that Hooker took up the hobby 

 of collecting Wedgwood ware, which became a subject of much 

 cheery banter between him and his friend. 



By the way — now don't despise me — I am collecting 

 Wedgwoods, simply and solely because they are pretty 

 and I love them. I have not even a Grayan excuse, they 

 afford me pleasure — voila tout. 



Darwin, who declared that he drew the line at collecting 

 stamps, was much amused, but confessed his family to be 

 ' degenerate descendants of old Josiah W T ., for we have not a 

 bit of pretty ware in the house ' (see CD. iii. 4), and to Hooker's 

 enthusiasm retorts : ' You cannot imagine what pleasure your 

 plants give me (far more than your Wedgwood ware can give 

 you).' 



To Charles Darwin 



January 6, 1863. 



I am quite aware of your insensibility to Wedgwood ware. 

 Were it otherwise I do not think I could have gone into the 

 foible, for I should have bored you out of your life to beg, 

 buy, borrow and steal for me (do not tell Henrietta). As 

 it is, I do not go further than little Medallions and such 

 matters — such gorgeous things as you had on slates are not 

 for the like of me, and as to the chimney-pots on your 

 chimney-piece in the dining-room, they are not worth carriage. 



And next day enjoyment bubbles over : 



It is rather jolly this writing about matters non-scientific 

 — let's give up science when you have done the three vols., 

 and take to gossip. I quite agree with you, that a holiday 

 is an unendurable bore, but depend on it, that is because we 

 have no vices to indulge in, and if you will only join me 

 in some good vice, such as talking about and writing about 

 what will do no good to our neighbours and some harm to 

 ourselves — we shall get on capitally, and scratch away. 



At a time when he declared he found life too great a worry 

 to allow him to bring mind or time to bear on botanical experi- 

 ments, he exclaims (March 5, 1863) : 



