2OO MISCELLANEA. [1875. 



The remembrance of screams, or other sounds heard in 

 Brazil, when he was powerless to interfere with what he 

 believed to be the torture of a slave, haunted him for years, 

 especially at night. In smaller matters, where he could inter- 

 fere, he did so vigorously. He returned one day from his walk 

 pale and faint from having seen a horse ill-used, and from the 

 agitation of violently remonstrating with the man. On 

 another occasion he saw a horse-breaker teaching his son to 

 ride, the little boy was frightened and the man was rough ; 

 my father stopped, and jumping out of the carriage reproved 

 the man in no measured terms. 



One other little incident may be mentioned, showing that 

 his humanity to animals was well known in his own neigh- 

 bourhood. A visitor, driving from Orpington to Down, told 

 the cabman to go faster. "Why," said the man, "if I had 

 whipped the horse this much, driving Mr. Darwin, he would 

 have got out of the carriage and abused me well." 



With respect to the special point under consideration, the 

 sufferings of animals subjected to experiment, nothing could 

 show a stronger feeling than the following extract from a 

 letter to Professor Ray Lankester (March 22, 1871) : 



" You ask about my opinion on vivisection. I quite agree 

 that it is justifiable for real investigations on physiology ; but 

 not for mere damnable and detestable curiosity. It is a 

 subject which makes me sick with horror, so I will not say 

 another word about it, else I shall not sleep to-night." 



An extract from Sir Thomas Farrer's notes shows how 

 strongly he expressed himself in a similar manner in con- 

 versation : 



" The last time I had any conversation with him was at my 

 house in Bryanston Square, just before one of his last seizures. 

 He was then deeply interested in the vivisection question ; 



Some time afterwards the patient that he had undoubtedly been in- 

 was discharged, and wrote to thank sane when he wrote his former 

 my father for his interference, adding letter. 



