A PEOTAGONIST OF EVOLUTION 427 



the drama of the birth of Evolutionary Theory which gives him 

 a permanent place in the History of Human Thought. He was 

 an almost life-long friend of Charles Darwin. He was the first 

 3onfidant to whom the Species Theory was entrusted. Except- 

 ing Wallace, he was its first whole-hearted adherent. He 

 ;vas also Darwin's constant and welcome adviser and critic, 

 Irawing upon his unrivalled knowledge of botanical detail 

 is evidence for, or check upon, the advancing theoretical 

 )osition. The published letters of Darwin reveal in a way 

 hat none of the completed works of Darwin or of Hooker could 

 lave done, the steps in the growth of the great generalisation, 

 tnd the part in it which Hooker himself took. We read of 

 he doubt of one or the other : the gradual accumulation of 

 aaterial facts : the criticisms and amendments in face of new 

 vidence : and the slow progress from tentative hypothesis 

 o assured belief. We ourselves have grown up since the clash 

 i opinion for and against the mutability of species died down. 

 t is hard for us to understand the strength of the feelings 

 roused : the bitterness of the attack by the opponents of 

 he theory, and the fortitude demanded from its adherents. 

 t is best to obtain evidence on such matters at first hand ; 

 nd this is what is supplied by the correspondence between 

 )arwin and Hooker. From the letters it is clear that his 

 riendship, advice, and alliance were of incalculable benefit 

 o Darwin himself, who summed this up in the words : ' You 

 ave represented for many years the whole great public to 

 ie.' But while this in itself gives Hooker his natural place 

 i history, it must never be forgotten that he himself upheld 

 i the ' Flora Tasmaniae ' the mutability of species, and based 

 is opinion, as Darwin stated, on * his own self-thought.' 

 ,mong botanists Hooker was in fact the Protagonist of 

 Evolution. His influence during that stirring period, though 

 uiet, was far-reaching and deep. His work was both critical 

 nd constructive. His wide knowledge, his keen insight, his 

 Barless judgment were invaluable in advancing that intellectual 

 evolution which found its pivot in the mutability of species, 

 he share he took in it was second only to that of his life-long 

 :iend, Charles Darwin. 



