CHAPTER XVI 

 1860-1861 



The letters given in the following chapters illustrate the 

 occupations and interests of the years i860 to 1863, apart 

 from the struggle over the species question. 



One of the most important and most engrossing was the 

 launching of a scientific quarterly to do more systematically 

 and thoroughly what had been done since 1858 in the fort- 

 nightly scientific column of the Saturday Rez'iew. Its gene- 

 sis is explained in the following letter: — 



/ufy 17, i86o. 



My dear Hooker — Some time ago Dr. Wright of Dublin 

 talked to me about the Natural History Review, which I believe 

 to a great extent belongs to him, and wanted me to join in the 

 editorship, provided certain alterations were made. I promised 

 to consider the matter, and yesterday he and Greene dined with 

 me, and I learned that Haughton and Galbraith were out of the 

 review — that Harvey was likely to go — that a new series was to 

 begin in January, with Williams and Norgate for publishers 

 over here — that it was to become an English and not a Hi- 

 bernian concern in fact — and finally, that if I chose to join as 

 one of the editors, the efifectual control would be pretty much 

 in my own hands. Now, considering the state of the times, and 

 the low condition of natural history journalisation (always ex- 

 cepting quarterly Mic. Jour.) in this country this seems to me 

 to be a fine opening for a plastically minded young man, and I 

 am decidedly inclined to close with the offer, though I shall get 

 nothing but extra work by it. 



To limit the amount of this extra work, however, I must get 

 co-editors, and I have written to Lubbock and to Rolieston (also 

 plastically minded young men) to see if they will join. Now up 

 to this point you have been in a horrid state of disgust, because 



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