WORK OF THE PERIOD. 329 



" i. Great breadth of view. No one who had not practically 

 studied and profoundly reflected on the questions discussed 

 could have written it 



" 2. The insight so remarkable in all that Mr. Darwin ever 

 did. The way in which he points out lines of enquiry that 

 would elucidate geological problems is eminently typical of 

 him. Some of these lines have never yet been adequately 

 followed ; so with regard to them he was in advance of his 

 time. 



"3. Interesting and sympathetic treatment. The author 

 at once puts his readers into harmony with him. He gives 

 them enough of information to show how delightful the 

 field is to which he invites them, and how much they might 

 accomplish in it. There is a broad sketch of the subject 

 which everybody can follow, and there is enough of detail 

 to instruct and guide a beginner and start him on the right 

 track. 



" Of course, geology has made great strides since 1 849, and 

 the article, if written now, would need to take notice of other 

 branches of enquiry, and to modify statements which are not 

 now quite accurate ; but most of the advice Mr.' Darwin 

 gives is as needful and valuable now as when it was given. 

 It is curious to see with what unerring instinct he seems 

 to have fastened on the principles that would stand the test 

 of time." 



In a letter to Lyell (1853) my father wrote, " I went up for a 

 paper by the Arctic Dr. Sutherland, on ice action, read only 

 in abstract, but I should think with much good matter. It 

 was very pleasant to hear that it was written owing to the 

 Admiralty Manual." 



To give some idea of the retired life which now began for 

 my father at Down, I have noted from his diary the short 

 periods during which he was away from home between the 

 autumn of 1842, when he came to Down, and the end of 

 1854. 



