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A PILGRIMAGE TO DOWN.

ON the 19th of August an event of an extremely interesting character—to those participating in it—took place. A party of about seventy ladies and gentlemen, members of the South Place Field Naturalists' Society, visited the residence of the late Mr. Charles Darwin, at Down.

The pilgrims met at the Cannon Street Station at 11.0 a.m., and proceeded by train to Orpington. The five miles lying between Orpington and Down were accomplished on foot, the route chosen being that across fields behind "Sunnyside," the residence of Mr. John Ruskin's publisher, Mr. Allen, to Farnborough.

A slight halt was made at the chief hotel at Farnborough, and the party then went on to "High Elms," the residence of Sir John Lubbock, who had kindly issued an invitation to the members to visit his grounds. The walk through the shrubberies and woods at "High Elms" was intensely enjoyed, the profusion of wild flowers delighting all the botanists present. After a considerable halt in the grounds of "High Elms," the journey was continued, and next the family grave of the Darwins in the churchyard at Down was visited.

A short meadow walk now brought the company to Down House, where they were hospitably received by Mrs. Darwin, Miss Darwin, and Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Litchfield (the late Mr. Charles Darwin's daughter and son-in-law).

The large party was then divided into two portions, and these were severally conducted by Mr. Litchfield through the apartments which Mr. Darwin used at different times as his studies, and had shown to them some of the simple forms of apparatus with which he had conducted his important biological investigations. It was with reverent feelings that the company lingered a few minutes where their great master had spent so many days and years, and all felt it a privilege to be allowed the opportunity of paying a debt of affection to the memory of the man whose life more than any other since Jesus and Socrates is worthy as an example.

Mr. Litchfield next conducted the company through the conservatories, and pointed out the dark room which Mr. Darwin had constructed for the purpose of observing the effect of perpetual darkness upon plant development, which building he never saw finished. The "Sand-walk" was then visited. Here Mr. Darwin was accustomed to walk daily during his forty years of residence at Down House.

"The Sand-walk" was a narrow strip of land 1 1/2 acre in extent, with a gravel walk round it. On one side of it was a broad old shaw with fair-sized oaks in it, which made a sheltered shady walk; the other side was separated from a neighbouring grass-field by a low quickset hedge, over which you could look at what view there was—a quiet little valley losing itself in the upland country towards the edge of the Westerham hill, with hazel coppice and larch wood stretching away to the Westerham road. I have heard my father say that the charm of this simple little valley helped to make him settle at Down.

"The Sand-walk was planted by my father with a variety of trees, such as hazel, alder, lime, hornbeam, birch, privet, and dogwood, and with a long line of hollies all down the exposed side. In earlier times he took a certain number of turns every day, and used to count them by means of a heap of flints, one of which he kicked out on the path each time he passed. Of late years I think he did not keep to any fixed number of turns, but took as many as he felt strength for. The Sand-walk was our playground as children, and here we continually saw my father as he walked round. He liked to see what we were doing, and was ever ready to sympathise in any fun that was going on. It is curious to think how, with regard to the Sand-walk in connection with my father, my earliest recollections coincide with my latest; it shows how unvarying his habits have been.

"Sometimes when alone he stood still or walked steathily to observe birds or beasts. It was on one of these occasions that some young squirrels ran up his back and legs, while their mother barked at them in an agony from the tree." (Francis Darwin, F.R.S., in "The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin.")

On reassembling at "The House," the company was invited to "four o'clock tea," and at about half-past five it set off, accompanied by Mr. Litchfield as far as Farnborough, on the return journey.

To the observant two things were very noticeable on this occasion: the quiet, unostentatious, cheerful reception given to the company at Down House; and the thoughtful, reverent, even emotional demeanour of the whole of the visitors.