1882 BOOKS ON MENTAL EVOLUTION 117 



and Mental Evolution. I shall reserve all the heavier 

 parts of theoretical discussion for the second book — 

 making the first the chief repository of facts, with 

 only a slender network of theory to bind them into 

 mutual relation, and save the book as much as 

 possible from the danger that you suggested of being 

 too much matter-of-fact. It will be an advantage to 

 have the facts in a form to admit of brief reference 

 when discussing the heavier philosophy in the second 

 book, which will be the more important, though the 

 less popular, of the two. 



Just then some correspondence had been going 

 on in the ' Times ' on the subject of Vivisection, and 

 Mr. Darwin wrote to Mr. Romanes as follows : — 



Down, Beckenham, Kent : April 26, 1881. 



My dear Eomanes, — I was very glad to read your 

 last notes with much news interesting to me. But I 

 write now to say how I, and indeed all of us in the 

 house, have admired your letter in the ' Times.' ^ It 

 was so simple and direct. I was particularly glad 

 about Burdon Sanderson, of whom I have been for 

 several years a great admirer. I was, also, especi- 

 ally glad to read the last sentences. I have been 

 bothered with several letters, but none abusive. 

 Under a selfish point of view I am very glad of the 

 publication of your letter, as I was at first inclined to 

 think that I had done mischief by stirring up the 

 mud, now I feel sure that I have done good 



The following letters relate to the portrait of 



' A letter written at the end of April 1881. 



