194 EVOLUTION, OLD AND NEW. 



He desired them to send to Derby for his surgeon, 

 Mr. Hadley. They did so, but all was over before he 

 could arrive. 



" It was reported at Lichfield that, perceiving himself 

 growing rapidly worse, he said to Mrs. Darwin, 'My 

 dear, you must bleed me instantly.' ' Alas ! I dare not, 



lest ' ' Emma, will you ? There is no time to be 



lost.' ' Yes, my dear father, if you will direct me.' At 

 that moment he sank into his chair and expired." * 



Dr. Dowson gives the letter to Mr. Edgeworth, which 



is as follows : — 



" Deab Edoewobth, 



" I am glad to find that yon still amnse yourself with mechaniam, 

 in spite of the troubles of Ireland. 



" The use of turning aside or downwards the claw of a table, I don't 

 see ; as it must then be reared against a wall, for it will not stand 

 alone. If the use be for carriage, the feet may shut up, like the usual 

 brass feet of a reflecting telescope. 



'■ We have all been now removed from Derby about a fortnight, to 

 the Priory, and all of us like our change of situation. We have a 

 pleasant house, a good garden, ponds full of fish, and a pleasing valley, 

 somewhat like Shenstone's — deep, umbrageous, and with a talkative 

 stream running down it. Our house is near the top of the valley, 

 well screened by hills from the east and north, and open to the south, 

 where at four miles distance we see Derby tower. 



" Four or more strong springs rise near the house, and have foriLed 

 the valley which, like that of Petrarch, may be called Yal Chiusa, as 

 it begins, or is shut at the situation of the house. I hope you like 

 the description, and hope farther that yourself and any part of your 

 family will sometimes do us the pleasure of a visit. 



" Pray tell the authoiesa " (Miss Maria Edgeworth) " that the water- 

 nymphs of our valley will be happy to assist her next novel, 



" My bookseller, Mr. Johnson, will not begin to print the ' Temple 

 of Nature ' till the price of pfiper is fixed by Parliament. I suppose the 

 present duty is paid " 



At these words Dr. Darwin's pen stopped. What 

 followed was written on the opposite side of the paper 

 by another hand. 



• ' Memoirs,' &o., p. 426. 



