14 



minerals. The passion for collecting which leads a man to be a systematic 

 naturalist, a virtuoso, or a miser, was very strong in me, and was clearly 

 innate, as none of my sisters or brother ever had this taste." 



1818 " I was at school at Shrewsbury under a great scholar, Dr Butler; I 



learnt absolutely nothing, except by amusing myself by reading and ex- 

 perimenting in Chemistry." 



1825 " As I was doing no good at school, my father wisely took me away 



at a rather earlier age than usual, and sent me (Oct. 1825) to Edinburgh 

 University with my brother, where I stayed for two years." 



1828 "As it was decided that I should be a clergyman, it was necessary 



that I should go to one of the English Universities and take a degree." 



Began residence at Christ's College, Cambridge, in the Lent term. 

 " Carolus Darwin admissus est pensionarius minor sub Mro Shaw." (Christ's 

 College Admission Book.) 



Christ's College was founded in 1505 by the Lady Margaret Beaufort, 

 mother of Henry VII. Darwin's rooms are on the south side of the first 

 court (Staircase G), above and to the right of the doorway shown in the 

 illustration (Plate III). 



" During the three years which I spent at Cambridge my time was 

 wasted, as far as the academical studies were concerned, as completely as 

 at Edinburgh and at school." 



"In order to pass the B.A. Examination, it was... necessary to get up 

 Paley's ' Evidences of Christianity,' and his ' Moral Philosophy.'... The careful 

 study of these works, without attempting to learn any part by rote, was the 

 only part of the academical course which... was of the least use to me in 

 the education of my mind." 



" I have not as yet mentioned a circumstance which influenced my 

 whole career more than any other. This was my friendship with Professor 

 Henslow (Plate IV). ...He kept open house once every week when all under- 

 graduates and some older members of the University, who were attached to 

 science, used to meet in the evening.... Before long I became well acquainted 

 with Henslow, and during the latter half of my time at Cambridge took 

 long walks with him on most days ; so that I was called by some of the 

 dons ' the man who walks with Henslow.' " 



" As time passed on at Cambridge I became very intimate with Professor 

 Henslow, and his kindness was unbounded ; he continually asked me to his 

 house, and allowed me to accompany him in his walks. He talked on all 

 subjects, including his deep sense of religion, and was entirely open. I owe 



