1 882.] BIRTHDAY GIFTS. 22/ 



remaining years of my life, whenever I want cheering, I will 

 look at the portraits of my distinguished co-workers in the 

 field of science, and remember their generous sympathy. 

 When I die, the album will be a most precious bequest to my 

 children. I must further express my obligation for the very 

 interesting history contained in your letter of the progress of 

 opinion in the Netherlands,* with respect to Evolution, the 

 whole of which is quite new to me. I must again thank all 

 my kind friends, from my heart, for their ever-memorable 

 testimonial, and I remain, Sir, 



Your obliged and grateful servant, 



CHARLES R. DARWIN." 



[In the June of the following year (1878) he was gratified 

 by learning that the Emperor of Brazil had expressed a wish 

 to meet him. Owing to absence from home my father was 

 unable to comply with this wish ; he wrote to Sir J. D. 

 Hooker : 



" The Emperor has done so much for science, that every 

 scientific man is bound to show him the utmost respect, 

 and I hope that you will express in the strongest language, 

 and which you can do with entire truth, how greatly I feel 

 honoured by his wish to see me ; and how much I regret my 

 absence from home." 



Finally it should be mentioned that in 1880 he received an 

 address personally presented by members of the Council ,of 

 the Birmingham Philosophical Society, as well as a memorial 

 from the Yorkshire Naturalist Union presented by some of 

 the members, headed by Dr. Sorby. He also received in the 

 same year a visit from some of the members of the Lewisham 

 and Blackheath Scientific Association, a visit which was, I 

 think, enjoyed by both guests and host] 



* See ' Nature,' March 3, 1877. 



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