ERASMUS DARWIN THE YOUNGER. 2 I 



" My brother Erasmus possessed a remarkably clear mind 

 with extensive and diversified tastes and knowledge in litera- 

 ture, art, and even in science. For a short time he collected 

 and dried plants, and during a somewhat longer time experi- 

 mented in chemistry. He was extremely agreeable, and his 

 wit often reminded me of that in the letters and works of 

 Charles Lamb. He was very kind-hearted. . . . His health 

 from his boyhood had been weak, and as a consequence he 

 failed in energy. His spirits were not high, sometimes low, 

 more especially during early and middle manhood. He read 

 much, even whilst a boy, and at school encouraged me to 

 read, lending me books. Our minds and tastes were, however, 

 so different, that I do not think I owe much to him intellectu- 

 ally. I am inclined to agree with Francis Galton in believ- 

 ing that education and environment produce only a small 

 effect on the mind of any one, and that most of our qualities 

 are innate/' 



Erasmus Darwin's name, though not known to the general 

 public, may be remembered from the sketch of his character 

 in Carlyle's 'Reminiscences,' which I here reproduce in 



part : — - 



il Erasmus Darwin, a most diverse kind of mortal, came to 

 seek us out very soon (' had heard of Carlyle in Germany, 

 &c.') and continues ever since to be a quiet house-friend 

 honestly attached ; though his visits latterly have been rarer 

 and rarer, health so poor, I so occupied, &c, &c. He had 

 something of original and sarcastically ingenious in him, one 

 of the sincerest, naturally truest, and most modest of men ; 

 elder brother of Charles Darwin (the famed Darwin on Species 

 ©if these days) to whom I rather prefer him for intellect, had 

 not his health quite doomed him to silence and patient idle- 

 ness. . . . My dear one 2iad a great favour for this honest 

 Darwin always ; many a road, to shops and the like, he drove 

 her in his cab (Darwingium Cabbum comparable to Georgium 

 •Sidus) in £bose early days when even the charge of omnibuses 



