Ch. X.] 1843—1858. 177 



not hitherto collected. My only comfort is (as I mean to 

 attempt the subject), that I have dabbled in several branches 

 of Natural History, and seen good specific men work out my 

 species, and know something of geology (an indispensable 

 union) ; and though I shall get more kicks than half-pennies, 

 I will, life serving, attempt my work. Lamarck is the only 

 exception, that I can think of, of an accurate describer of species 

 at least in the Invertebrate Kingdom, who has disbelieved in 

 permanent species, but he in his absurd though clever work has 

 done the subject harm, as has Mr. Vestiges, and, as (some future 

 loose naturalist attempting the same speculations will perhap s 

 say) has Mr. D. . . . 



C. D. to J. D. Hooker. September 25th [1853]. 



In my own Cirripedial work (by the way, thank you for the 

 dose of soft solder ; it does one — or at least me — a great deal 

 of good) — in my own work I have not felt conscious that dis- 

 believing in the mere permanence of species has made much 

 difference one way or the other ; in some few cases (if publish- 

 ing avowedly on the doctrine of non-permanence), I should not 

 have affixed names, and in some few cases should have affixed 

 names to remarkable varieties. Cortainly I have felt it 

 humiliating, discussing and doubting, and examining over and 

 over again, when in my own mind the only doubt has been 

 whether the form varied to-day or yesterday (not to put too fine 

 a point on it, as Snagsby* would say). After describing a set 

 of forms as distinct species, tearing up my MS., and making 

 them one species, tearing that up and making them separate, 

 and then making them one again (which has happened to me), 

 I have gnashed my teeth, cursed species, and asked what sin I 

 had committed to be so punished. But I must confess that 

 perhaps nearly the same thing would have happened to me on 

 any scheme of work. 



C. D. to J. D. Hooker. Down, March 26th [1854]. 



My dear Hooker — I had hoped that you would have had a 

 little breathing-time after your Journal,! but this seems to be 

 very far from the case ; and I am the more obliged (and some- 

 what contrite) for the long letter received this morning, most 

 juicy with news and most interesting to me in many ways. I 

 am very glad indeed to hear of the reforms, &c, in the Royal 



* In Bleak House. 



f Sir Joseph Hooker's Himalayan Journal. 



V 



