i.] ANTECEDENTS. . 45 



DARWIN. There are many instances in this 

 family of a love for natural history and theory, 

 and of an aptitude for collecting facts in business- 

 like but peculiar ways. Speaking from private 

 sources of knowledge, I am sure that these cha- 

 racteristics are hereditary rather than traditional ; 

 there is also a strong element of individual it}' in 

 the race which is adverse to traditional influence. 



First generation. (1) Erasmus Darwin, M.D., 

 F.R.S., physician, physiologist and poet. His 

 " Botanic Garden " had an immense reputation at 

 the time it was written ; for, besides its intrinsic 

 merits, it chimed in with the sentiments and 

 mode of expression of his day. The ingenuity of 

 Dr. Darwin's numerous writings and theories is 

 truly remarkable. He was held in very high 

 esteem by his scientific friends, including such cele- 

 brities as Priestley and James Watt, and it is by a 

 man's position among his contemporaries and 

 competitors that his worth may most justly be 

 appraised. Unfortunately for his memory, he has 

 had no good biographer. He was a man of great 

 vigour, humour and geniality (Miss Seward's life of 

 him, and latterly a pamphlet by Dr. Richardson ; 



