WORK ESSENTIAL FOR DARWIN 65 



knows I ought to be thankful for such a perennial interest, 

 which makes me forget for some hours every day my 

 accursed stomach.' * 



Prof. Judd tells of the deep debt to science 

 which Darwin expressed to him on his last visit 

 to Down, and how, having recently become 

 possessed of an increased income, 



' he was most anxious to devote what he could spare to 

 the advancement of Geology or Biology. He dwelt in the 

 most touching manner on the fact that he owed so much 

 happiness and fame to the natural-history sciences which 

 had been the solace of what might have been a painful 

 existence ... I was much impressed by the earnestness, and, 

 indeed, deep emotion, with which he spoke of his indebted- 

 ness to Science, and his desire to promote its interests.' 2 



Final and secure confirmation of the conclusion 

 that Darwin's health and comfort demanded the 

 employment of his whole strength and energy 

 upon scientific work is found in the following 

 touching passage from a letter written, less than 

 a year before his death, to the dearest of his 

 friends : 



' I am rather despondent about myself, and my troubles 

 are of an exactly opposite nature to yours, for idleness is 

 downright misery to me, as I find here, as I cannot forget 

 my discomfort for an hour. I have not the heart or strength 

 at my age to begin any investigation lasting years, which is 

 the only thing which I enjoy ; and I have no little jobs 

 which I can do. So I must look forward to Down grave- 

 yard as the sweetest place on earth.' 3 



The dilemma of Darwin's life entirely explains 

 that limitation of interest which has been so often 



1 June 17. Life and Letters, iii. 92. 2 Ibid. iii. 352, 353. 



s To Sir Joseph Hooker, June 15, 1881. More Letters, ii. 433. 



F 



