408 MEMOIRS Ol 



by paternal farpafms upon it's indolence 

 and imputed effeminacy. From infancy to 

 Ins laft day, Mr. Darwin had fhrunk, with 

 pained fenfibility, from his father's irony. 

 Probably from the lefs a dive, lefs fcientific 

 difpofition of Erafmus, in comparifon with 

 that of his brothers, Charles and Rqbert, 

 Dr. Darwin had always appeared colder 

 towards him than to his other children. 

 Doubtlefs it w r as that inferior degree of 

 attachment which made the leflbn of ftoi- 

 cifm fomewhat more practicable on this 

 trying, this dire occafion. It excited, how- 

 ever, univerfal furprife to fee him walking 

 along the ftreets of Derby the day after 

 the funeral of his fon, with a ferene coun- 

 tenance and his ufual cheerfulnefs of ad- 

 drefs. This felf-command enabled him 

 to take immediate pofleffion of the premifes 

 bequeathed to him ; to lay plans for their 

 improvement ; to take pleafure in defcrib- 



