RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1881. [Recollection of Darwin as a schoolboy by W. A. Leighton]. In Smith, W. G. A holiday in Shropshire. Gardeners' Chronicle (20 August), p. 232.
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 2.2020. RN1.
NOTE: See record in the Freeman Bibliographical Database, enter its Identifier here.
Introduction by Christine Chua:
In August 1881, Charles Cardale Babington (1808-1895), president of the Cambrian Archaeological Association, was accompanied by botanical and agricultural friends to explore Shrewsbury in Shropshire. Allport Leighton was among them. They were school and Cambridge University contemporaries and friends of Darwin. A description of part of their excursion is transcribed here along with a recollected sentence by Darwin. There is a copy in CUL-DAR226.1.57.
Leighton's recollection of Darwin's school days can be found here: CUL-DAR112.B94-B98
Francis Darwin, in Life and letters, vol. 1, p. 28, used Leighton's anecdote of the childhood encounter.
Rev. W. A. Leighton, who was a schoolfellow of my father's at Mr. Case's school, remembers his bringing a flower to school and saying that his mother had taught him how by looking at the inside of the blossom the name of the plant could be discovered. Mr. Leighton goes on, "This greatly roused my attention and curiosity, and I inquired of him repeatedly how this could be done?"—but his lesson was naturally enough not transmissible.—F. D.
[page] 232
[…]
The first place visited was the Castle; of this nothing but mounds of earth indicate the ancient British and Saxon positions, of the Norman work only a gateway and square keep remain. After mounting to the highest point, on to a huge mound of earth, capped by a pretty little garden, an excellent view of Shrewsbury is obtained, and in the distance, on The Mount, Frankwell; may be clearly seen the birthplace of our famous countryman, Charles Darwin. This house was pointed out as one of the sights of Shrewsbury, and in respectful remembrance of the great philosopher's admirable teaching a small sketch of the house was made on the mound with the camera, and is here reproduced (fig. 47). Mr. Leighton, who was a schoolfellow with Charles Darwin, retains many pleasant remembrances of his school companion as a boy, and afterwards as a man.
One trifling recollection it may be admissible to print. Darwin and Leighton as lads were fond of plants and gardening. One day Darwin brought a plant to Leighton, and told him that his mother had said if he counted the little threads (pointing to the stamens) inside the flower, he could find out its name.
"But how can that be done?" said Leighton.
"Ah!" replied his gardening companion, "I cannot remember that."
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 7 December, 2022