I 
INTRODUCTORY LETTER 
FROM Sir JosEPH DALTon HOOKER, 
O.M., G.C.S.L, OB. M.D., D.C.L., LL.D. F.R.8., BTC. 
THe Camp, 
near SUNNINGDALE, 
January 15, 1909. 
DEAR PROFESSOR SEWARD, 
The publication of a Series of Essays in Commemoration 
of the century of the birth of Charles Darwin and of the fiftieth 
anniversary of the publication of “The Origin of Species” is assuredly 
welcome and is a subject of congratulation to all students of Science. 
These Essays on the progress of Science and Philosophy as 
affected by Darwin’s labours have been written by men known for 
their ability to discuss the problems which he so successfully worked 
to solve. They cannot but prove to be of enduring value, whether 
for the information of the general reader or as guides to investigators 
occupied with problems similar to those which engaged the attention 
of Darwin. 
The essayists have been.fortunate in having for reference the five 
published volumes of Charles Darwin’s Life and Correspondence. 
For there is set forth in his own words the inception in his mind 
of the problems, geological, zoological and botanical, hypothetical 
and theoretical, which he set himself to solve and the steps by which 
he proceeded to investigate them with the view of correlating the 
phenomena of life with the evolution of living things. In his letters 
he expressed himself in language so lucid and so little burthened 
with technical terms that they may be regarded as models for those 
who were asked to address themselves primarily to the educated 
reader rather than to the expert. 
I may add that by no one can the perusal of the Essays be more 
vividly appreciated than by the writer of these lines. It was my 
privilege for forty years to possess the intimate friendship of Charles 
D. 1 
