The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-01-22

eEce. With zoology 1t wasdiherent Although
he possessed only q wretched microscope. OAR
win succeeded In making some minor zo0log-
ical discoveries which he set forth In papers
read before the Plinian Society.
III.
After Darwin had spent two years at Edin.
burgh his father perceived or heard that he did
not like the thought OF being q physician. 80
he proposed that his son should become q
clergyman. In pursuance OF this plan the
future naturalist, not entertaining at that time
the least doubt OF the literal truth Of every
word in the Bible. and being persuaded
that the Anglican creed must be fully accepted.
proceeded to Cambridge University in 1923.
Concerning the vocation chosen for him at this
timo Darwin writes In his autobiography:
Considering how flercely l have been
attacked by the orthodox 1t seems ludicrous
that l once intended to be a clergyman. Nor
was this intention and my fathers wish ever
formally given up. but died n natural death
when. on leaving Cambridge. l Joined the
Beagle as naturalist. II phrenologists are to be
trusted. j was well fitted in one respect to be q
clergyman. A few years ago the SECRETARIES Of
a German psychological society asked mo ear
nestly by letter for q photograph Of myself: and
some time af l received a report OF the
proceedings at one OF their meetings. in which
it seemed that the shape Of my head had been
the subject OF a public discussion. and one OF
the speakers declared TINT I had the bump OF
reverence developed enough for ten priests.
1t was Darwin's conviction that during the
three years which no spent at Cambridge his
time was wasted. as far as the academical
studies were concerned wasted rs completely
as 1t had been at Edinburgh and ut Shrews-
bury. Ho attempted mathematics. of which
so much account Is made at Cambridge. but
the work was repugnant to him. chiefly. as he
atterward thought. from his not being able to
see any meaning in the early steps OF algebra.
He says in the photographed sketch that
this i'm patience was very foolish. and in after
years / have often regretted that l did not
proceed for enough at least to understand
something OF the great leading principles
OF Mathematics. for mon thus endowed
seem to have m extra sense. But
l do not believe that I eve. should
have succeeded beyond a very low grade.
With respect to classics l did nothing
eXcert attend q few compulsory college lee
lures" Elsewhere he notes that g in orde. to
pass the Il. \. examination. 1t was necessary to
get IN Paley's Evidences Of Christianity ard
his Moral Philosophy This was done in a
thorough manner. and l am convinced that
could have written out the whole OF the Evil
dences with perfect correctness. but not, Of
| CoutSSs Az Nho NAtu VI III hltIOI
The logic Of this book gave me as much de-
light as did Euclid. The careful study OF Pa
ley's works was the only part OF the academi-
cal course which. as | then felt. and as I still
believe. was OF the least use to me In the edu-
cation OF my mind. l did not at that timo
trouble myself about Pnley's premises: and.
taking those on trust. | was charmed and con-
WINGED by tho long line OF augmentation"
Strange TO say. Darwin did not rroft while
at Cambridge by Sedgwick's lectures on geol-
ogy; had he done SO. he would doubtless have
become a geologist earlier than he did.
Neither did no study botany. though he at
tended Henslow's lectures on that science.
The truth is that Darwin. owing to his passion
for hunting md shooting, got into n sporting
set. which included some disslpated young
men. W used often" he recalls. ito dine
together in the evening. and We sometimes
drank too much. with Jolly singing and playing
a: cards efterward. / know that l ought to
feel ashamed OF days and evenings thus epent.
but us some OF my friends were very pleas
ant. and We were all in the highest spirits.
l cannot help looking back to these
times with much pleasure" There was, how
ever one feature OF Darwin's undergraduate
life which had n direct bearing on his subse-
quent career. mo pursuit ut Cambridge" he
tells US. was followed with so much errcr-
ness or gave me 30 much pleasure as collect
ing beetles. 1t was" he adds. modestiy. "the
mere passion for collecting. for ! did not dis
sect them. and rarely compared their external
characters with published descriptions. but
got them named anyhow" No doubt it was
this taste for collecting beetles that com
mended Darwin to the notice. and eventually
to the friendship. Of Prot. Henslow. who pos
sessed q great deal Of knowledge In on
tomology. botany. chemistry. mineralogy.
an1 -ao1ou- Snnattpo, afto. 1;.;o.
with Henslow. the young Undergraduate
had the privilege OF walking homo with DR..
Whewell. and we are not surprised to hear him
testify that. next to Sir James Macintosh,
Whewell was the best converser on grave sub
jects to whom he ever listened. or course.
Darwin Is justified In saying that. looking
back. l infer that there must have been some
thing in me u little superior to the common
run Of youths. otherwise the above mentioned
men. 80 much older than me and higher in
s%cademical position. would never have allowed
me to associate with them." The following
words are Characteristic: Certainly l was
not aware o, any such superiority.
and / remember one OF my sport
ing friends. Turner. who saw me- at
work with my beetles. saying that /
should some day be q Fellow OF the Royal So
ciety. and the notion seemed to me prepostsr-
GUS" The impression which he made on Prot.
Henslow was shown by the fact that he was
recommended to Capt. Fitz. Roy OF the Beagle
as q competent naturalist to him
on his voyage round the world. With the re-
suits OF that voyage. and OF the scientific
studies to which 1t gave the impulse. the world
is familiar; and We therefore pass at once to
an interesting subject. as to which hitherto we
have had but little Information. namely. the
views with reference to religion at which
Charles Darwin ultimately arrived. Full en-
lightenment upon this subject Is for the first
time Httainable In a chapter Of this volume for
which We are indebted to his son.
~.
In beginning his chapter on Religion. Mr..
Francis Darwin reminds US that his father In