Of letters addressed to my father I have not made much use. It was his custom to file all letters received, and when his slender stock of files ("spits" as he called them) was exhausted, he would burn the letters of several years, in order that he might make use of the liberated "spits." This process, carried on for years, destroyed nearly all letters received before 1862. After that date he was persuaded to keep the more interesting letters, and these are preserved in an accessible form. I have attempted to give, in Chapter III., some account of his manner of working. During the last eight years of his life I acted as his assistant, and thus had an opportunity of knowing something of his habits and methods. I have received much help from my friends in the course of my work. To some I am indebted for reminiscences of my father, to others for information, criticisms, and advice. To all these kind coadjutors I gladly acknowledge my indebtedness. The names of some occur in connection with their contributions, but I do not name those to whom I am indebted for criticisms or corrections, because I should wish to bear alone the load of my short-comings, rather than to let any of it fall on those who have done their best to lighten it. It will be seen how largely I am indebted to Sir Joseph Hooker for the means of illustrating my father's life. The readers of these pages will, I think, be grateful to Sir Joseph for the care with which he has preserved his valuable collection of letters, and I should wish to add my acknowledgment of the generosity with which he has placed it at my disposal, and for the kindly encouragement given throughout my work. To Mr. Huxley I owe a debt of thanks, not only for much kind help, but for his willing compliance with my request that he should contribute a chapter on the reception of the 'Origin of Species.' Finally, it is a pleasure to acknowledge the courtesy of the publishers of the 'Century Magazine' who have freely given me the use of their illustrations. To Messrs. Maull and Fox and Messrs. Elliott and Fry I am also indebted for their kindness in allowing me the use of reproductions of their photographs. FRANCIS DARWIN. Cambridge, October, 1887. TABLE OF CONTENTS. VOLUME I. CHAPTER 1.I.--The Darwin Family. CHAPTER 1.II.--Autobiography. CHAPTER 1.III.--Reminiscences. LETTERS. CHAPTER 1.IV.--Cambridge Life--1828-1831. CHAPTER 1.V.--The Appointment to the 'Beagle'--1831. CHAPTER 1.VI.--The Voyage--1831-1836. CHAPTER 1.VII.--London and Cambridge--1836-1842. CHAPTER 1.VIII.--Religion. CHAPTER 1.IX.--Life at Down--1842-1854. CHAPTER 1.X.--The Growth of the 'Origin of Species.' CHAPTER 1.XI.--The Growth of the 'Origin of Species'--Letters--1843-1856. CHAPTER 1.XII.--The Unfinished Book--May 1856-June 1858. CHAPTER 1.XIII.--The Writing of the 'Origin of Species'--June 18, 1858--November 1859. CHAPTER 1.XIV.--Professor Huxley on the Reception of the 'Origin of Species.'