ERASMUS DARWIN THE YOUNGER. 21 



practising as a doctor, and, after leaving Cambridge, lived a 

 quiet life in London. 



There was something pathetic in Charles Darwin's affection 

 for his brother Erasmus, as if he always recollected his solitary 

 life, and the touching patience and sweetness of his nature. 

 He often spoke of him as " Poor old Ras," or " Poor dear 

 old Philos " I imagine Philos (Philosopher) was a relic of the 

 days when they worked at chemistry in the tool-house at 

 Shrewsbury a time of which he always preserved a pleasant 

 memory. Erasmus being rather more than four years older 

 than Charles Darwin, they were not long together at Cam- 

 bridge, but previously at Edinburgh they lived in the same 

 lodgings, and after the Voyage they lived for a time together 

 in Erasmus' house in Great Marlborough Street. At this 

 time also he often speaks with much affection of Erasmus 

 in his letters to Fox, using words such as " my dear good 

 old brother." In later years Erasmus Darwin came to Down 

 occasionally, or joined his brother's family in a summer 

 holiday. But gradually it came about that he could not, 

 through ill health, make up his mind to leave London, and 

 then they only saw each other when Charles Darwin went 

 for a week at a time to his brother's house in Queen Anne 

 Street. 



The following note on his brother's character was written 

 by Charles Darwin at about the same time that the sketch 

 of his father was added to the ' Recollections ' : 



" My brother Erasmus possessed a remarkably clear mind 

 with extensive and diversified tastes and knowledge in litera- 

 ture, art, and even in science. For a short time he collected 

 and dried plants, and during a somewhat longer time ex- 

 perimented in chemistry. He was extremely agreeable, and 

 his wit often reminded me of that in the letters and works of 

 Charles Lamb. He was very kind-hearted. . . . His health 

 from his boyhood had been weak, and as a consequence he 



