Volume 1

Charles Darwin and the Origin of species : addresses, etc., in America and England in the year of the two anniversaries / by Edward Bagnall Poulton.

  • Poulton, Edward Bagnall, Sir, 1856-1943.
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Charles Darwin and the Origin of species : addresses, etc., in America and England in the year of the two anniversaries / by Edward Bagnall Poulton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    94/336 (page 70)
    A good example of Darwin’s beautiful and sympathetic treatment of the younger workers who asked for help is to be found in his letter to Prof. E. B. Wilson, quoted on p. 107. John Scott, employed in the Botanical Garden at Edinburgh, writing about his experiments con¬ ducted along lines suggested by Darwin’s pub¬ lished researches, became, in a measure, a pupil of the illustrious naturalist. For years Darwin devoted much time and thought not only to Scott’s work but to giving the encouragement so necessary to a proud, reserved, sensitive man, with qualities very superior to those usually found in the position in which he was placed. 11 should be proud to be the author of the paper,’1 he wrote, when he had at length persuaded Scott to prepare an account of some of his investiga¬ tions for the Linnean Society. And referring to its publication he wrote to Hooker:— 1 Remember my urgent wish to be able to send the poor fellow a word of praise from any one.’2 To the same friend he said of Scott’s letters, 4 these show remarkable talent, astonishing per¬ severance, much modesty, and what I admire, determined difference from me on many points.’3 A delightful spirit, boyish in its gaiety, is revealed in Darwin’s correspondence with his friends, and especially with the greatest of them 1 Nov. 7, 1863. More Letters, ii. 325. The paper was read Feb. 4, 1864, and is published in Linn. Soc. Journ., viii, 1865. 2 Jan 24. 1864. More Letters, ii. 326. 3 Apr. 1, 1864. Ibid., ii. 330.