486 LETTERS TO DARWIN AND OTHERS. [1862, 
Nature, you may be confident that he has had some- 
thing to do with the “ contrivances” in your orchids. 
I have just received and glanced at Bentham’s ad- 
dress, and am amused to see how your beautiful flank 
movement with the Orchid book has nearly overcome 
his opposition to the “ Origin.” 
The military simile above leads me to speak of 
your wonder that I can think of science at all in the 
midst of war. Well, first, we get used toit. Second, 
we need something to turn to, and happy are they who, 
forbidden to engage personally in the war (as I am 
ever itching to do), have something to turn to. Third, 
I do not do much, do nothing, in fact, except my col- 
lege duties now for months, and that is the reason I 
have time to write to you, and be interested in all your 
doings. 
If you suppose everything is paralyzed and desolate 
here, and the country greatly put back, read a very 
sensible letter of an Englishman in the “ Spectator ” of 
June 7. It is very just and true. We shall recuper- 
ate fast enough, and be better off than ever, as much 
prosperity as is good for us, and more solid, more in- 
dependent, more self-contained, which is our great de- 
sideratum. Free trade be blowed; we must needs 
have high duties on imports, and it is better that we 
should. By these and by direct taxes— the tax-bill 
just passed — we shall have to pay over largely. Very 
well. 
Just at present our prospects (viz., evening of July 
3) are looking badly enough. McClellan has clearly 
been overmatched and driven to the wall, after very 
obstinate fighting, with very heavy loss on both sides. 
Whether it is retrievable with reinforcements, or 
whether the whole campaign has to be begun again 
