The Autobiography of Charles DarwinDarwin, Charles
Science
The Autobiography of Charles Darwin
Darwin, Charles
Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882; Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882. On the origin of species; Naturalists -- Great Britain -- Biography
I have not as yet mentioned a circumstance which influenced my whole
career more than any other. This was my friendship with Professor
Henslow. Before coming up to Cambridge, I had heard of him from my
brother as a man who knew every branch of science, and I was
accordingly prepared to reverence him. He kept open house once every
week when all undergraduates, and some older members of the University,
who were attached to science, used to meet in the evening. I soon got,
through Fox, an invitation, and went there regularly. Before long I
became well acquainted with Henslow, and during the latter half of my
time at Cambridge took long walks with him on most days; so that I was
called by some of the dons “the man who walks with Henslow;” and in the
evening I was very often asked to join his family dinner. His knowledge
was great in botany, entomology, chemistry, mineralogy, and geology.
His strongest taste was to draw conclusions from long-continued minute
observations. His judgment was excellent, and his whole mind well
balanced; but I do not suppose that any one would say that he possessed
much original genius. He was deeply religious, and so orthodox that he
told me one day he should be grieved if a single word of the
Thirty-nine Articles were altered. His moral qualities were in every
way admirable. He was free from every tinge of vanity or other petty
feeling; and I never saw a man who thought so little about himself or
his own concerns. His temper was imperturbably good, with the most
winning and courteous manners; yet, as I have seen, he could be roused
by any bad action to the warmest indignation and prompt action.
I once saw in his company in the streets of Cambridge almost as horrid
a scene as could have been witnessed during the French Revolution. Two
body-snatchers had been arrested, and whilst being taken to prison had
been torn from the constable by a crowd of the roughest men, who
dragged them by their legs along the muddy and stony road. They were
covered from head to foot with mud, and their faces were bleeding
either from having been kicked or from the stones; they looked like
corpses, but the crowd was so dense that I got only a few momentary
glimpses of the wretched creatures. Never in my life have I seen such
wrath painted on a man’s face as was shown by Henslow at this horrid
scene. He tried repeatedly to penetrate the mob; but it was simply
impossible. He then rushed away to the mayor, telling me not to follow
him, but to get more policemen. I forget the issue, except that the two
men were got into the prison without being killed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account