1 862.] OF FLOWERS. 



Well, my Orchis-book is a success (but I do not know 

 whether it sells)." 



In another letter to the same friend, he wrote : 

 " You have pleased me much by what you say in regard to 

 Bentham and Oliver approving of my book ; for I had got a 

 sort of nervousness, and doubted whether I had not made an 

 egregious fool of myself, and concocted pleasant little stinging 

 remarks for reviews, such as * Mr. Darwin's head seems to have 

 been turned by a certain degree of success, and he thinks that 

 the most trifling observations are worth publication.' " 



Mr. Bentham's approval was given in his Presidential 

 Address to the Linnean Society, May 24, 1862, and was 

 all the more valuable, because it came from one who was 

 by no means supposed to be favourable to Evolutionary 

 doctrines.] 



C. Darwin to Asa Gray. 



Down, June 10 [1862]. 



MY DEAR GRAY, Your generous sympathy makes you over- 

 estimate what you have read of my Orchid-book. But your 

 letter of May i8th and 26th has given me an almost foolish 

 amount of satisfaction. The subject interested me, I knew, 

 beyond its real value ; but I had lately got to think that I had 

 made myself a complete fool by publishing in a semi-popular 

 form. Now I shall confidently defy the world. I have heard 

 that Bentham and Oliver approve of it ; but I have heard the 

 opinion of no one else whose opinion is worth a farthing. . . . 

 No doubt my volume contains much error : how curiously 

 difficult it is to be accurate, though I try my utmost. Your 

 notes have interested me beyond measure. I can now afford 

 to d my critics with ineffable complacency of mind. Cordial 

 thanks for this benefit. It is surprising to me that you should 

 have strength of mind to care for science, amidst the awful 

 events daily occurring in your country. I daily look at the 

 Times with almost as much interest as an American could do. 



