380 LIFE AT DOWN. jETAT. 33-45. [l8$ I. 



miserable work, again, it is searching for priority of names. 

 I have just finished two species, which possess seven generic, 

 and twenty-four specific names ! My chief comfort is, that 

 the work must be sometime done, and I may as well do it, as 

 any one else. 



I have given up my agitation against mihi and nobis; my 

 paper is too long to send to you, so you must see it, if you 

 care to do so, on your return. By-the-way, you say in your 

 letter that you care more for my species work than for the 

 Barnacles ; now this is too bad of you, for I declare your 

 decided approval of my plain Barnacle work over theoretic 

 species work, had very great influence in deciding me to go 

 on with the former, and defer my species paper. . . . 



[The following letter refers to the death of his little 

 daughter, which took place at Malvern on April 24, 1851 :] 



C. Darwin to W. D. Fox. 



Down, April 2gth [1851]. 



MY DEAR Fox, I do not suppose you will have heard of 

 our bitter and cruel loss. Poor dear little Annie, when going 

 on very well at Malvern, was taken with a vomiting attack, 

 which was at first thought of the smallest importance ; but it 

 rapidly assumed the form of a low and dreadful fever, which 

 carried her off in ten days. Thank God, she suffered hardly 

 at all, and expired as tranquilly as a little angel. Our only 

 consolation is that she passed a short, though joyous life. 

 She was my favourite child ; her cordiality, openness, buoyant 

 joyousness and strong affections made her most loveable. 

 Poor dear little soul. Well, it is all over. . . . 



C. Darwin to W. D. Fox. 



Down, March 7th [1852]. 



MY DEAR Fox, It is indeed an age since we have had any 

 communication, and very glad I was to receive your note. 



