352 LIFE AT DOWN. ^ETAT. 33-45. [1855 



the whole system of breaking through the affections of the 

 family by separating the boys so early in life ; but I see no 

 help, and dare not run the risk of a youth being exposed to 

 the temptations of the world without having undergone the 

 milder ordeal of a great school. 



I see you even ask after our pears. We have lots of 

 Beurre"es d'Aremberg, Winter Nelis, Marie Louise, and u Ne 

 plus Ultra," but all off the wall ; the standard dwarfs have 

 borne a few, but I have no room for more trees, so their 

 names would be useless to me. You really must make a 

 holiday and pay us a visit sometime ; nowhere could you be 

 more heartily welcome. I am at work at the second volume 

 of the Cirripedia, of which creatures I am wonderfully tired. 

 I hate a Barnacle as no man ever did before, not even a sailor 

 in a slow-sailing ship. My first volume is out ; the only part 

 worth looking at is on the sexes of Ibla and Scalpellum. I 

 hope by next summer to have done with my tedious work. 

 Farewell, do come whenever you can possibly manage it. 



I cannot but hope that the carbuncle may possibly do you 

 good : I have heard of all sorts of weaknesses disappearing 

 after a carbuncle. I suppose the pain is dreadful, I agree 

 most entirely, what a blessed discovery is chloroform. When 

 one thinks of one's children, it makes quite a little difference 

 in one's happiness. The other day I had five grinders (two 

 by the elevator) out at a sitting under this wonderful sub- 

 stance, and felt hardly anything. 



My dear old friend, yours very affectionately, 



CHARLES DARWIN. 



C. Darwin to W. D. Fox. 



Down, January 2gth [1853]. 



MY DEAR Fox, Your last account some months ago was 

 so little satisfactory that I have often been thinking of you, 

 and should be really obliged if you would give me a few lines, 

 and tell me how your voice and chest are. I most sincerely 

 hope that your report will be good. . . . Our second lad has 



