[page] 202

...in writing a review of the book, in which he intends to refute Mr. Darwin's chief contentions,- for if Darwin is right, Agassiz is wrong. You, I fancy, have not read the book...I admire the patience of Mr. Darwin's research, the wide range of his knowledge and his thought , and above all the honesty and manliness of his plain speech. His book will help to overthrow many old and cumbrous superstitions even if ...

[page] 309

[Letter to John Ruskin]

September 9, 1869. Kenton Rectory

We have seen Darwin several times during the last ten days. He is a delightful person from his simplicity, sweetness and strength ... His face is massive, with little beauty of feature but much of expression. He has a lively humour, and a cheerful, friendly manner. I hope you will return soon enough to meet him here.

[page] 445

Sunday, December 22, 1872

Lunched with Jane at Mr. Erasmus Darwin's. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Darwin were there, but Mr. Darwin was too unwell to be seen. Mr. and Mrs. Hensleigh Wedgwood were there with us at lunch.

[page] 476

Last Sunday, April 5 [1873], Grace and I lunched with the

[page] 477

Darwins, who are spending a few weeks in town, in a house in Montagu Street. Mr. Darwin was even more than usually pleasant: his modesty, his simplicity, his geniality of temper, the pleasant unaffected animation of his manners, are always delightful; but on Sunday there was a tenderness in his expression, and he was in better health for the day than common. His talk is not often memorable on account of brilliant or impressive sayings, but it is always the expression of the qualities of mind and heart which combine in such rare excellence in his genius.