1863.] TEXT BOOKS. jg^ 



Such a gem as this is enough to make me young again, and 

 like poetry with pristine fervour. 



My dear Huxley, 



Yours affectionately, 



CH. DARWIN. 



[In another letter (Jan. 1865) he returns to the above sugges- 

 tion, though he was in general strongly opposed to men of 

 science giving up to the writing of text-books, or to teaching, 

 the time that might otherwise have been given to original re- 

 search. 



" I knew there was very little chance of your having time 

 to. write a popular Treatise on Zoology, but you are about the 

 one man who could do it. At the time I felt it would be 

 almost a sin for you to do it, as it would of course destroy 

 some original work. On the other hand I sometimes think 

 that general and popular treatises are almost as important for 

 the progress of science as original work." 



The series of letters will continue the history of the year 

 1863.] 



C. Darwin to J. D. Hooker. 



Down, Jan. 3 [1863]. 



MY DEAR HOOKER. I am burning with indignation and 

 must exhale. ... I could not get to sleep till past 3 last 

 night for indignation.* .... 



Now for pleasanter subjects ; we were all amused at your 

 defence of stamp collecting and collecting generally. . . . But, 

 by Jove, I can hardly stomach a grown man collecting stamps. 

 Who would ever have thought of your collecting Wedgwood- 

 ware ! but that is wholly different, like engravings or pictures. 

 We are degenerate descendants of old Josiah W., for we have 

 not a bit of pretty ware in the house. 



* It would serve no useful purpose if I were to go into the matter which 

 so strongly roused my father's anger. It was a question of literary dishon- 

 esty, in which a friend was the sufferer, but which in no way affected him- 

 self. 



