STANDING FOR PARLIAMENT 73 



the satisfaction of knowing how ably his son 

 acquitted himself in the new role of parliamentary 

 candidate. Every reference to his speeches is 

 couched in the terms of congratulation. It is 

 evident that the line which he struck out for 

 himself in his first venture in public speaking, as 

 distinguished from lecturing, was that which he 

 adopted throughout his career. He spoke simply, 

 lucidly, with a conviction that carried his audience 

 with him, and without any rhetorical arts. His 

 father wrote to him, in regard to his first speech 

 at Maidstone, the following brief note, which 

 has a sad interest in that it is the last he ever 

 penned : 



High Elms, Farnborough, Kent, 

 Wednesday 26th, 1865. 



Dear John — I wish to add my tribute of applause. 

 Your excellent speech at Maidstone appears to me to 

 be in the best possible taste and admirably suited to 

 the occasion. Go on and prosper. — I am, dear John, 

 yours most affectionately, J. W. Lubbock. 



His ever kind friend, Charles Darwin, had 

 written on the previous day a letter of highest 

 encomium on his address : 



Down, Beckenham, Kent, 

 February 25, 1865. 



My dear Lubbock — Although you will be over- 

 whelmed with congratulations, I must write to say how 

 heartily I rejoice over your success. Your speech at 

 Maidstone struck me as quite excellent, and I fully 

 expect to see you a great man in Parliament, as you are 

 in Science. But even in the moment of triumph, I must 

 let one little groan escape me for poor deserted Science. 

 Anyhow, I know that you will always love your first-born 

 child, and not despise her for the sake of gaudy politicks. 



I wrote to ask you a question about savages and 

 suicide before I had heard of Maidstone ; otherwise, 



