The History of a Forty Years' Friendship. 205 
To Hooker, after the publication of the Essay, Darwin wrote, 
—“ I have finished your Essay. . . To my judgment it is by far 
the grandest and most interesting essay, on subjects of the nature 
discussed, I have ever read.” After some criticism, he concludes, 
—“ But I am an impudent dog, one must defend one’s fancy 
theories against such cruel men as you. I dare say this letter 
will appear very conceited, but one must form an opinion on what 
one reads with attention and in simple truth, I cannot find words 
strong enough to express my admiration of your Essay, My dear 
dear old friend, yours affectionately, C. Darwin.” 1 
In the concluding paragraph of this Essay, Hooker writes,— 
“ I would further observe here, to avoid ambiguity, that my friend, 
Mr. Darwin’s, just completed work (1859) “ On the Origin of 
Species by Natural Selection,” from the perusal of much of which 
in MS. I have profited so largely, had not appeared during the 
printing of this Essay, or 1 should have largely quoted it.” 2 
On the publication of the “ Origin” Hooker wrote,—“ I am a 
sinner not to have written you ere this, if only to thank you for 
your glorious book—what a mass of close reasoning on curious 
facts and fresh phenomena—it is capitally written and will be very 
successful.... Lyell, with whom we are staying, is perfectly 
enchanted, and is absolutely gloating over it. I must accept your 
compliment to me, and ackowledgment of supposed assistance 
from me, as the warm tribute of affection from an honest (though 
deluded) man, and furthermore accept it as very pleasing to my 
vanity ; but my dear fellow, neither my name nor my judgment 
nor my assistance, deserved any such compliments, and if I am 
dishonest enough to be pleased with what I don’t deserve, it must 
just pass.” 3 In reply Darwin wrote,—“I cannot help it, 1 must 
thank you for your affectionate and most kind note. My head 
will be turned. By Jove, I must try and get a bit modest.... 
You have cockered me up to that extent, that I now feel that I can 
face a score of savage reviewers.” 4 In another letter he added,— 
“ Your approval of my book, for many reasons, gives me intense 
satisfaction ; but I must make some allowance for your kindness 
and sympathy. Anyone with ordinary faculties, if he had patience 
enough and plenty of time, could have written my book.” 5 
In 1860 Hooker visited Syria. Darwin thus refers to the 
> L. and L., Vol. II, p. 259. 
2 Introductory Essay to the F'lora of Tasmania, p. cxxviii. 
(Flora of Tasmania, Vol. I, 1859). 
» f and L., Vol. II, p. 222. 4 Ibid, p. 228. 5 Ibid, p. 243, 
