22 THE DARWIN FAMILY. 



failed in energy. His spirits were not high, sometimes low, 

 more especially during early and middle manhood. He read 

 much, even whilst a boy, and at school encouraged me to 

 read, lending me books. Our minds and tastes were, however, 

 so different, that I do not think I owe much to him intellectu- 

 ally. I am inclined to agree with Francis Galton in believing 

 that education and environment produce only a small effect 

 on the mind of any one, and that most of our qualities are 

 innate." 



Erasmus Darwin s name, though not known to the general 

 public, may be remembered from the sketch of his character 

 in Carlyle's ' Reminiscences,' which I here reproduce in part: 



" Erasmus Darwin, a most diverse kind of mortal, came to 

 seek us out very soon (' had heard of Carlyle in Germany, 

 &c.') and continues ever since to be a quiet house-friend, 

 honestly attached ; though his visits latterly have been rarer 

 and rarer, health so poor, I so occupied, &c., &c. He had 

 something of original and sarcastically ingenious in him, one 

 of the sincerest, naturally truest, and most modest of men ; 

 elder brother of Charles Darwin (the famed Darwin on Species 

 of these days) to whom I rather prefer him for intellect, had 

 not his health quite doomed him to silence and patient idle- 

 ness. . . . My dear one had a great favour for this honest 

 Darwin always ; many a road, to shops and the like, he drove 

 her in his cab (Darwingium Cabbum comparable to Georgium 

 Sidus) in those early days when even the charge of omnibuses 

 was a consideration, and his sparse utterances, sardonic often, 

 were a great amusement to her. ' A perfect gentleman ' she at 

 once discerned him to be, and of sound worth and kindliness 

 in the most unaffected form." * 



Charles Darwin did not appreciate this sketch of his brother; 

 * Carlyle's ' Reminiscences,' vol. ii. p. 208. 



