i875-l LYELL'S DEATH. 



pure love of truth. Well, he is gone, and I feel as if we were 

 all soon to go. ... I am deeply rejoiced about Westminster 

 Abbey,* the possibility of which had not occurred to me 

 when I wrote before. I did think that his works were the 

 most enduring of all testimonials (as you say) to him ; but 

 then I did not like the idea of his passing away with no out- 

 ward sign of what scientific men thought of his merits. Now 

 all this is changed, and nothing can be better than West- 

 minster Abbey. Mrs. Lyell has asked me to be one of the 

 pall-bearers, but I have written to say that I dared not, as I 

 should so likely fail in the midst of the ceremony, and have 

 my head whirling off my shoulders. All this affair must have 

 cost you much fatigue and worry, and how I do wish you 

 were out of England. . . . 



[In 1881 he wrote to Mrs. Fisher in reference to her article 

 on Sir Charles Lyell in the ' Encyclopaedia Britannica ' : 



" For such a publication I suppose you do not want to say 

 much about his private character, otherwise his strong sense 

 of humour and love of society might have been added. Also 

 his extreme interest in the progress of the world, and in the 

 happiness of mankind. Also his freedom from all religious 

 bigotry, though these perhaps would be a superfluity." 



The following refers to the Zoological station at Naples, 

 a subject on which my father felt an enthusiastic interest :] 



C. Darwin to Anton Dohrn. 



Down [1875 ?]. 



MY DEAR DR. DOHRN, Many thanks for your most kind 

 letter, I most heartily rejoice at your improved health and at 

 the success of your grand undertaking, which will have so 

 much influence on the progress of Zoology throughout 

 Europe. 



If we look to England alone, what capital work has already 

 been done at the Station by Balfour and Ray Lankester. . . . 



* Sir C. Lyell was buried in Westminster Abbey. 



