Ch. XII.] OCTOBER 1859, TO DECEMBER 1859. 211 



C. D. to J. D. Hooker. Hkley, Yorkshire. [November, 



1859.] 



My dear Hooker, — I have just read a review on my book 

 in the Athenseum* and it excites my curiosity much who is the 

 author. If you should hear who writes in the Athenseum I 

 wish you would tell me. It seems to me well done, but the 

 reviewer gives no new objections, and, being hostile, passes 

 over every single argument in favour of the doctrine. ... I 

 fear, from the tone of the review, that I have written in a 

 conceited and cocksure style,f which shames me a little. 

 There is another review of which I should like to know tho 

 author, viz. of H. C. Watson in the Gardeners' Chronicle.% 

 Some of the remarks are like yours, and he does deserve 

 punishment ; but surely the review is too severe. Don't you 

 think so ? . . . 



I have heard from Carpenter, who, I think, is likely to be a 

 convert. Also from Quatrefages, who is inclined to go a long 

 way with us. He says that he exhibited in his lecture 

 a diagram closely like mine I 



J. D. Hoolcer to G. Darwin. Monday [Nov. 21, 1859]. 



My dear Darwin, — I am a sinner not to have written you 

 ere this, if only to thank you for your glorious book — what a 

 mass of close reasoning on curious facts and fresh phenomena 

 — it is capitally written, and will be very successful. I say 

 this on the strength of two or three plunges into as many 

 chapters, for I have not yet attempted to read it. Lyell, with 

 whom we are staying, is perfectly enchanted, and is absolutely 

 gloating over it. I must accept your compliment to me, and 

 acknowledgment of supposed assistance § from me, as the warm 

 tribute of affection from an honest (though deluded) man, and 

 furthermore accept it as very pleasing to my vanity ; but, my 

 dear fellow, neither my name nor my judgment nor my 

 assistance deserved any such compliments, and if I am dis- 

 honest enough to be pleased with what I don't deserve, it must 



* Nov. 19, 1859. 



t The Reviewer speaks of the author's " evident self-satisfaction," and 

 of his disposing of all difficulties "more or less confidently." 



X A review of the fourth volume of Watson's Cybele Britannica, Gard. 

 Chron., 1859, p. 911. 



§ See the Origin, first edition, p. 3, where Sir J. D. Hooker's help is 

 conspicuously acknowledged. 



* 2 



