102 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 



least once every week ; for perhaps the parts of my 

 brain now atrophied would thus have been kept active 

 through use. The loss of these tastes is a loss of 

 happiness, and may possibly be injurious to the in- 

 tellect, and more probably to the moral character, by 

 enfeebling the emotional part of our nature. 



My books have sold largely in England, have been 

 translated into many languages, and passed through 

 several editions in foreign countries. I have heard it 

 said that the success of a work abroad is the best test 

 of its enduring value. I doubt whether this is at all 

 trustworthy ; but judged by this standard my name 



r ought to last for a few years. Therefore it may be 

 worth while to try to analyse the mental qualities and 

 the conditions on which my success has depended ; 

 though I am aware that no man can do this correctly. 

 I have no great quickness of apprehension or wit 

 which is so remarkable in some clever men, for in- 

 stance, Huxley. I am therefore a poor critic : a 

 paper or book, when first read, generally excites my 

 admiration, and it is only after considerable reflection 

 that I perceive the weak points. My power to follow 

 a long and purely abstract train of thought is very 

 limited ; and therefore I could never have succeeded 

 with metaphysics or mathematics. My memory is 

 extensive, yet hazy : it suffices to make me cautious 

 by vaguely telling me that I have observed or read 

 something opposed to the conclusion which I am 

 drawing, or on the other hand in favour of it ; and 

 after a time I can generally recollect where to search 

 for my authority. So poor in one sense is my memory, 



