244 



LAST YEARS IN ENGLAND. [Chap. VI. 



of the Smithsonian. The audience was much pleased, and 

 one of the secretaries, who had travelled in the United States, 

 endorsed my statements." 



After describing Worcester College, with its very beautiful 

 grounds, where he was staying, he says, " In my younger days 

 these twenty-four colleges were shut out from all who could 

 not sign the Thirty-nine Articles. Now, through the per- 

 severing energy of Mr. James Heywood, they are open to all ; 

 and the most ancient and most exclusive of universities, not 

 content with admitting any one within its walls, is offering its 

 examinations, and giving its Associate degree, to all persons 

 any w her so that the son of a common joiner from our War- 

 rington public school has creditably passed." He then sup- 

 plies Dr. Henry with information as to public and private 

 collections, with a view to the disposal of the duplicates in his 

 hands. A few days after, he added a very full report of what 

 had interested him at Oxford, derived in part from his short- 

 hand notes. The great event of the meeting was the dis- 

 cussion on Darwin's views (which Philip had been studying on 

 his voyage home), in which many eminent men took part. 

 Professor Henslow presided in Section D. (" He is now a 

 white-haired old gentleman, with the same beautiful face as 

 ever, giving prizes to village children for wild flowers and snails, 

 beloved by all. He was much pleased at your remembrance 



of him.") After Sir B. Brodie, Mr. jumped up : a young 



clergyman, "with a peculiarly self-important look. He made 

 a great fuss about getting a black board, all to sketch a few 

 branches. Then he found he could not explain himself — be- 

 cause — he had nothing to explain : 6 This represents the pro- 

 gress from the first atom 7 (President : ' Confine yourself, please, 

 to Mr. Darwin's theory'); 'that is the line of the monkeys, 

 ending in man.' Amiable and prolonged clapping, to prevent 

 him from going on. President, very politely : ' We are getting 

 a little beyond the mark.' Incessant amiable clapping. The 

 poor parson did not know what to make of it. We all 

 told him he had better sit down. He looked as much 

 as to say, ' When I ope my mouth at Twaddletown, no dog 



