andheadvisedmeifeverIwasmyselfillnottoallowanydoctortotakemorethananextremelysmallquantityofblood。Longbeforetyphoidfeverwasrecognisedasdistinct，myfathertoldmethattwoutterlydistinctkindsofillnesswereconfoundedunderthenameoftyphusfever。Hewasvehementagainstdrinking，andwasconvincedofboththedirectandinheritedevileffectsofalcoholwhenhabituallytakeneveninmoderatequantityinaverylargemajorityofcases。Butheadmittedandadvancedinstancesofcertainpersonswhocoulddrinklargelyduringtheirwholeliveswithoutapparentlysufferinganyevileffects，andhebelievedthathecouldoftenbeforehandtellwhowouldthusnotsuffer。Hehimselfneverdrankadropofanyalcoholicfluid。Thisremarkremindsmeofacaseshowinghowawitnessunderthemostfavourablecircumstancesmaybeutterlymistaken。Agentleman—farmerwasstronglyurgedbymyfathernottodrink，andwasencouragedbybeingtoldthathehimselfnevertouchedanyspirituousliquor。Whereuponthegentlemansaid，’Come，come，Doctor，thiswon’tdo——thoughitisverykindofyoutosaysoformysake——forI
knowthatyoutakeaverylargeglassofhotginandwatereveryeveningafteryourdinner。’（Thisbeliefstillsurvives，andwasmentionedtomybrotherin1884byanoldinhabitantofShrewsbury。——F。D。）Somyfatheraskedhimhowheknewthis。Themananswered，’Mycookwasyourkitchen—
maidfortwoorthreeyears，andshesawthebutlereverydayprepareandtaketoyoutheginandwater。’Theexplanationwasthatmyfatherhadtheoddhabitofdrinkinghotwaterinaverytallandlargeglassafterhisdinner;andthebutlerusedfirsttoputsomecoldwaterintheglass，whichthegirlmistookforgin，andthenfilleditupwithboilingwaterfromthekitchenboiler。
"Myfatherusedtotellmemanylittlethingswhichhehadfoundusefulinhismedicalpractice。Thusladiesoftencriedmuchwhiletellinghimtheirtroubles，andthuscausedmuchlossofhisprecioustime。Hesoonfoundthatbeggingthemtocommandandrestrainthemselves，alwaysmadethemweepthemore，sothatafterwardshealwaysencouragedthemtogooncrying，sayingthatthiswouldrelievethemmorethananythingelse，andwiththeinvariableresultthattheysoonceasedtocry，andhecouldhearwhattheyhadtosayandgivehisadvice。Whenpatientswhowereveryillcravedforsomestrangeandunnaturalfood，myfatheraskedthemwhathadputsuchanideaintotheirheads;iftheyansweredthattheydidnotknow，hewouldallowthemtotrythefood，andoftenwithsuccess，ashetrustedtotheirhavingakindofinstinctivedesire;butiftheyansweredthattheyhadheardthatthefoodinquestionhaddonegoodtosomeoneelse，hefirmlyrefusedhisassent。
"Hegaveonedayanoddlittlespecimenofhumannature。WhenaveryyoungmanhewascalledintoconsultwiththefamilyphysicianinthecaseofagentlemanofmuchdistinctioninShropshire。Theolddoctortoldthewifethattheillnesswasofsuchanaturethatitmustendfatally。Myfathertookadifferentviewandmaintainedthatthegentlemanwouldrecover:hewasprovedquitewronginallrespects（Ithinkbyautopsy）andheownedhiserror。Hewasthenconvincedthatheshouldneveragainbeconsultedbythisfamily;butafterafewmonthsthewidowsentforhim，havingdismissedtheoldfamilydoctor。Myfatherwassomuchsurprisedatthis，thatheaskedafriendofthewidowtofindoutwhyhewasagainconsulted。
Thewidowansweredherfriend，that’shewouldneveragainseetheodiousolddoctorwhosaidfromthefirstthatherhusbandwoulddie，whileDr。
Darwinalwaysmaintainedthathewouldrecover！’Inanothercasemyfathertoldaladythatherhusbandwouldcertainlydie。Somemonthsafterwardshesawthewidow，whowasaverysensiblewoman，andshesaid，’Youareaveryyoungman，andallowmetoadviseyoualwaystogive，aslongasyoupossiblycan，hopetoanynearrelativenursingapatient。Youmademedespair，andfromthatmomentIloststrength。’Myfathersaidthathehadoftensinceseentheparamountimportance，forthesakeofthepatient，ofkeepingupthehopeandwithitthestrengthofthenurseincharge。Thishesometimesfounddifficulttodocompatiblywithtruth。Oneoldgentleman，however，causedhimnosuchperplexity。HewassentforbyMr。P——，whosaid，’FromallthatIhaveseenandheardofyouIbelievethatyouarethesortofmanwhowillspeakthetruth，andifIask，youwilltellmewhenIamdying。NowImuchdesirethatyoushouldattendme，ifyouwillpromise，whateverImaysay，alwaystodeclarethatIamnotgoingtodie。’Myfatheracquiescedontheunderstandingthathiswordsshouldinfacthavenomeaning。
"Myfatherpossessedanextraordinarymemory，especiallyfordates，sothatheknew，whenhewasveryold，thedayofthebirth，marriage，anddeathofamultitudeofpersonsinShropshire;andheoncetoldmethatthispowerannoyedhim;forifheonceheardadate，hecouldnotforgetit;andthusthedeathsofmanyfriendswereoftenrecalledtohismind。Owingtohisstrongmemoryheknewanextraordinarynumberofcuriousstories，whichhelikedtotell，ashewasagreattalker。Hewasgenerallyinhighspirits，andlaughedandjokedwitheveryone——oftenwithhisservants——withtheutmostfreedom;yethehadtheartofmakingeveryoneobeyhimtotheletter。Manypersonsweremuchafraidofhim。Iremembermyfathertellingusoneday，withalaugh，thatseveralpersonshadaskedhimwhetherMiss——，agrandoldladyinShropshire，hadcalledonhim，sothatatlastheenquiredwhytheyaskedhim;andhewastoldthatMiss——，whommyfatherhadsomehowmortallyoffended，wastellingeverybodythatshewouldcallandtell’thatfatolddoctorveryplainlywhatshethoughtofhim。’Shehadalreadycalled，buthercouragehadfailed，andnoonecouldhavebeenmorecourteousandfriendly。Asaboy，Iwenttostayatthehouseof——，whosewifewasinsane;andthepoorcreature，assoonasshesawme，wasinthemostabjectstateofterrorthatIeversaw，weepingbitterlyandaskingmeoverandoveragain，’Isyourfathercoming？’butwassoonpacified。Onmyreturnhome，Iaskedmyfatherwhyshewassofrightened，andheansweredhewasverygladtohearit，ashehadfrightenedheronpurpose，feelingsurethatshewouldbekeptinsafetyandmuchhappierwithoutanyrestraint，ifherhusbandcouldinfluenceher，whenevershebecameatallviolent，byproposingtosendforDr。Darwin;
andthesewordssucceededperfectlyduringtherestofherlonglife。
"Myfatherwasverysensitive，sothatmanysmalleventsannoyedhimorpainedhimmuch。Ionceaskedhim，whenhewasoldandcouldnotwalk，whyhedidnotdriveoutforexercise;andheanswered，’EveryroadoutofShrewsburyisassociatedinmymindwithsomepainfulevent。’Yethewasgenerallyinhighspirits。Hewaseasilymadeveryangry，buthiskindnesswasunbounded。Hewaswidelyanddeeplyloved。
"Hewasacautiousandgoodmanofbusiness，sothathehardlyeverlostmoneybyaninvestment，andlefttohischildrenaverylargeproperty。I
rememberastoryshowinghoweasilyutterlyfalsebeliefsoriginateandspread。Mr。E——，asquireofoneoftheoldestfamiliesinShropshire，andheadpartnerinabank，committedsuicide。Myfatherwassentforasamatterofform，andfoundhimdead。Imaymention，bytheway，toshowhowmattersweremanagedinthoseolddays，thatbecauseMr。E——wasarathergreatman，anduniversallyrespected，noinquestwasheldoverhisbody。
Myfather，inreturninghome，thoughtitpropertocallatthebank（wherehehadanaccount）totellthemanagingpartnersoftheevent，asitwasnotimprobablethatitwouldcausearunonthebank。Well，thestorywasspreadfarandwide，thatmyfatherwentintothebank，drewoutallhismoney，leftthebank，camebackagain，andsaid，’ImayjusttellyouthatMr。E——haskilledhimself，’andthendeparted。Itseemsthatitwasthenacommonbeliefthatmoneywithdrawnfromabankwasnotsafeuntilthepersonhadpassedoutthroughthedoorofthebank。Myfatherdidnothearthisstorytillsomelittletimeafterwards，whenthemanagingpartnersaidthathehaddepartedfromhisinvariableruleofneverallowinganyonetoseetheaccountofanotherman，byhavingshowntheledgerwithmyfather’saccounttoseveralpersons，asthisprovedthatmyfatherhadnotdrawnoutapennyonthatday。Itwouldhavebeendishonourableinmyfathertohaveusedhisprofessionalknowledgeforhisprivateadvantage。Nevertheless，thesupposedactwasgreatlyadmiredbysomepersons;andmanyyearsafterwards，agentlemanremarked，’Ah，Doctor，whatasplendidmanofbusinessyouwereinsocleverlygettingallyourmoneysafeoutofthatbank！’
"Myfather’smindwasnotscientific，andhedidnottrytogeneralizehisknowledgeundergenerallaws;yetheformedatheoryforalmosteverythingwhichoccurred。IdonotthinkIgainedmuchfromhimintellectually;buthisexampleoughttohavebeenofmuchmoralservicetoallhischildren。
Oneofhisgoldenrules（ahardonetofollow）was，’Neverbecomethefriendofanyonewhomyoucannotrespect。’"
Dr。Darwinhadsixchildren（OftheseMrs。Wedgwoodisnowthesolesurvivor。）:Marianne，marriedDr。HenryParker;Caroline，marriedJosiahWedgwood;ErasmusAlvey;Susan，diedunmarried;CharlesRobert;Catherine，marriedRev。CharlesLangton。
Theelderson，Erasmus，wasbornin1804，anddiedunmarriedattheageofseventy—seven。
He，likehisbrother，waseducatedatShrewsburySchoolandatChrist’sCollege，Cambridge。HestudiedmedicineatEdinburghandinLondon，andtookthedegreeofBachelorofMedicineatCambridge。Henevermadeanypretenceofpractisingasadoctor，and，afterleavingCambridge，livedaquietlifeinLondon。
TherewassomethingpatheticinCharlesDarwin’saffectionforhisbrotherErasmus，asifhealwaysrecollectedhissolitarylife，andthetouchingpatienceandsweetnessofhisnature。Heoftenspokeofhimas"PooroldRas，"or"PoordearoldPhilos"——IimaginePhilos（Philosopher）wasarelicofthedayswhentheyworkedatchemistryinthetool—houseatShrewsbury——
atimeofwhichhealwayspreservedapleasantmemory。ErasmusbeingrathermorethanfouryearsolderthanCharlesDarwin，theywerenotlongtogetheratCambridge，butpreviouslyatEdinburghtheylivedinthesamelodgings，andaftertheVoyagetheylivedforatimetogetherinErasmus’
houseinGreatMarlboroughStreet。AtthistimealsoheoftenspeakswithmuchaffectionofErasmusinhisletterstoFox，usingwordssuchas"mydeargoodoldbrother。"InlateryearsErasmusDarwincametoDownoccasionally，orjoinedhisbrother’sfamilyinasummerholiday。Butgraduallyitcameaboutthathecouldnot，throughillhealth，makeuphismindtoleaveLondon，andthentheyonlysaweachotherwhenCharlesDarwinwentforaweekatatimetohisbrother’shouseinQueenAnneStreet。
Thefollowingnoteonhisbrother’scharacterwaswrittenbyCharlesDarwinataboutthesametimethatthesketchofhisfatherwasaddedtothe’Recollections。’:——
"MybrotherErasmuspossessedaremarkablyclearmindwithextensiveanddiversifiedtastesandknowledgeinliterature，art，andeveninscience。
Forashorttimehecollectedanddriedplants，andduringasomewhatlongertimeexperimentedinchemistry。Hewasextremelyagreeable，andhiswitoftenremindedmeofthatinthelettersandworksofCharlesLamb。Hewasverykind—hearted……Hishealthfromhisboyhoodhadbeenweak，andasaconsequencehefailedinenergy。Hisspiritswerenothigh，sometimeslow，moreespeciallyduringearlyandmiddlemanhood。Hereadmuch，evenwhilstaboy，andatschoolencouragedmetoread，lendingmebooks。Ourmindsandtasteswere，however，sodifferent，thatIdonotthinkIowemuchtohimintellectually。IaminclinedtoagreewithFrancisGaltoninbelievingthateducationandenvironmentproduceonlyasmalleffectonthemindofanyone，andthatmostofourqualitiesareinnate。"
ErasmusDarwin’sname，thoughnotknowntothegeneralpublic，mayberememberedfromthesketchofhischaracterinCarlyle’s’Reminiscences，’
whichIherereproduceinpart:——
"ErasmusDarwin，amostdiversekindofmortal，cametoseekusoutverysoon（’hadheardofCarlyleinGermany，etc。’）andcontinueseversincetobeaquiethouse—friend，honestlyattached;thoughhisvisitslatterlyhavebeenrarerandrarer，healthsopoor，Isooccupied，etc。，etc。Hehadsomethingoforiginalandsarcasticallyingeniousinhim，oneofthesincerest，naturallytruest，andmostmodestofmen;elderbrotherofCharlesDarwin（thefamedDarwinonSpeciesofthesedays）towhomIratherpreferhimforintellect，hadnothishealthquitedoomedhimtosilenceandpatientidleness……MydearonehadagreatfavourforthishonestDarwinalways;manyaroad，toshopsandthelike，hedroveherinhiscab（DarwingiumCabbumcomparabletoGeorgiumSidus）inthoseearlydayswheneventhechargeofomnibuseswasaconsideration，andhissparseutterances，sardonicoften，wereagreatamusementtoher。’Aperfectgentleman，’sheatoncediscernedhimtobe，andofsoundworthandkindlinessinthemostunaffectedform。"（Carlyle’s’Reminiscences，’vol。
ii。page208。）
CharlesDarwindidnotappreciatethissketchofhisbrother;hethoughtCarlylehadmissedtheessenceofhismostlovablenature。
IamtemptedbythewishofillustratingfurtherthecharacterofonesosincerelybelovedbyallCharlesDarwin’schildren，toreproducealettertothe"Spectator"（September3，1881）byhiscousinMissJuliaWedgwood。
"AportraitfromMr。Carlyle’sportfolionotregrettedbyanywholovedtheoriginal，surelyconferssufficientdistinctiontowarrantafewwordsofnotice，whenthecharacteritdepictsiswithdrawnfrommortalgaze。
Erasmus，theonlybrotherofCharlesDarwin，andthefaithfulandaffectionateoldfriendofboththeCarlyles，hasleftacircleofmournerswhoneednotributefromillustriouspentoembalmthememorysodeartotheirhearts;butawidercirclemusthavefeltsomeinterestexcitedbythattribute，andmayreceivewithacertainattentiontherecordofauniqueandindelibleimpression，eventhoughitbemadeonlyontheheartsofthosewhocannotbequeathit，andwithwhom，therefore，itmustspeedilypassaway。Theyrememberitwiththesamedistinctnessastheyrememberacreationofgenius;ithasinlikemannerenrichedandsweetenedlife，formedacommonmeeting—pointforthosewhohadnoother;and，initsstrongfragranceofindividuality，enforcedthatrespectfortheidiosyncraciesofhumancharacterwithoutwhichmoraljudgmentisalwayshardandshallow，andoftenunjust。Carlylewasonetofindapeculiarenjoymentinthecombinationoflivelinessandreposewhichgavehisfriend’ssocietyaninfluenceatoncestimulatingandsoothing，andthewarmthofhisappreciationwasnotmadeknownfirstinitsposthumousexpression;hislettersofanxietynearlythirtyyearsago，whenthefraillifewhichhasbeenprolongedtooldagewasthreatenedbyseriousillness，arestillfreshinmymemory。Thefriendshipwasequallywarmwithbothhusbandandwife。IrememberwellapatheticlittleremonstrancefromherelicitedbyanavowalfromErasmusDarwin，thathepreferredcatstodogs，whichshefeltasluronherlittle’Nero;’andthetonesinwhichshesaid，’Oh，butyouarefondofdogs！youaretookindnottobe，’spokeofalongvistaofsmall，graciouskindnesses，rememberedwithatendergratitude。Hewasintimatealsowithapersonwhosefriends，likethoseofMr。Carlyle，havenotalwayshadcausetocongratulatethemselvesontheirplaceinhergallery，——HarrietMartineau。Ihaveheardhimmorethanoncecallherafaithfulfriend，anditalwaysseemedtomeacurioustributetosomethinginthefriendshipthathealonesupplied;butifshehadwrittenofhimatall，Ibelievethemention，initsheartinessofappreciation，wouldhaveaffordedarareandcuriousmeeting—pointwiththeother’Reminiscences，’solikeandyetsounlike。Itisnotpossibletotransfertheimpressionofacharacter;wecanonlysuggestitbymeansofsomeresemblance;anditisasingularillustrationofthatironywhichchecksordirectsoursympathies，thatintryingtogivesomenotionofthemanwhom，amongthosewhowerenothiskindred，Carlyleappearstohavemostloved，IcansaynothingmoredescriptivethanthatheseemstometohavehadsomethingincommonwiththemanwhomCarlyleleastappreciated。ThesocietyofErasmusDarwinhad，tomymind，muchthesamecharmasthewritingsofCharlesLamb。Therewasthesamekindofplayfulness，thesamelightnessoftouch，thesametenderness，perhapsthesamelimitations。Onanothersideofhisnature，Ihaveoftenbeenremindedofhimbythequaint，delicatehumour，thesuperficialintolerance，thedeepspringsofpity，thepeculiarmixtureofsomethingpatheticwithasortofgayscorn，entirelyremotefromcontempt，whichdistinguishtheEllesmereofSirArthurHelps’earlierdialogues。Perhapswerecallsuchnaturesmostdistinctly，whensucharesemblanceisallthatisleftofthem。Thecharacterisnotmergedinthecreation;andwhatweloseinthepowertocommunicateourimpression，weseemtogaininitsvividness。ErasmusDarwinhaspassedawayinoldage，yethismemoryretainssomethingofayouthfulfragrance;hisinfluencegavemuchhappiness，ofakindusuallyassociatedwithyouth，tomanylivesbesidestheillustriousonewhoserecordsjustify，thoughcertainlytheydonotinspire，thewishtoplacethisfadingchapletonhisgrave。"
Theforegoingpagesgive，inafragmentarymanner，asmuchperhapsasneedbetoldofthefamilyfromwhichCharlesDarwincame，andmayserveasanintroductiontotheautobiographicalchapterwhichfollows。
CHAPTER1。II。
AUTOBIOGRAPHY。
[Myfather’sautobiographicalrecollections，giveninthepresentchapter，werewrittenforhischildren，——andwrittenwithoutanythoughtthattheywouldeverbepublished。Tomanythismayseemanimpossibility;butthosewhoknewmyfatherwillunderstandhowitwasnotonlypossible，butnatural。Theautobiographybearstheheading，’RecollectionsoftheDevelopmentofmyMindandCharacter，’andendwiththefollowingnote:——
"Aug。3，1876。ThissketchofmylifewasbegunaboutMay28thatHopedene（Mr。HensleighWedgwood’shouseinSurrey。），andsincethenIhavewrittenfornearlyanhouronmostafternoons。"Itwilleasilybeunderstoodthat，inanarrativeofapersonalandintimatekindwrittenforhiswifeandchildren，passagesshouldoccurwhichmustherebeomitted;andIhavenotthoughtitnecessarytoindicatewheresuchomissionsaremade。Ithasbeenfoundnecessarytomakeafewcorrectionsofobviousverbalslips，butthenumberofsuchalterationshasbeenkeptdowntotheminimum。——F。D。]
AGermanEditorhavingwrittentomeforanaccountofthedevelopmentofmymindandcharacterwithsomesketchofmyautobiography，Ihavethoughtthattheattemptwouldamuseme，andmightpossiblyinterestmychildrenortheirchildren。Iknowthatitwouldhaveinterestedmegreatlytohavereadevensoshortanddullasketchofthemindofmygrandfather，writtenbyhimself，andwhathethoughtanddid，andhowheworked。Ihaveattemptedtowritethefollowingaccountofmyself，asifIwereadeadmaninanotherworldlookingbackatmyownlife。NorhaveIfoundthisdifficult，forlifeisnearlyoverwithme。Ihavetakennopainsaboutmystyleofwriting。
IwasbornatShrewsburyonFebruary12th，1809，andmyearliestrecollectiongoesbackonlytowhenIwasafewmonthsoverfouryearsold，whenwewenttonearAbergeleforsea—bathing，andIrecollectsomeeventsandplacestherewithsomelittledistinctness。
MymotherdiedinJuly1817，whenIwasalittleovereightyearsold，anditisoddthatIcanrememberhardlyanythingaboutherexceptherdeath—
bed，herblackvelvetgown，andhercuriouslyconstructedwork—table。InthespringofthissameyearIwassenttoaday—schoolinShrewsbury，whereIstayedayear。IhavebeentoldthatIwasmuchslowerinlearningthanmyyoungersisterCatherine，andIbelievethatIwasinmanywaysanaughtyboy。
BythetimeIwenttothisday—school（KeptbyRev。G。Case，ministeroftheUnitarianChapelintheHighStreet。Mrs。DarwinwasaUnitarianandattendedMr。Case’schapel，andmyfatherasalittleboywenttherewithhiseldersisters。ButbothheandhisbrotherwerechristenedandintendedtobelongtotheChurchofEngland;andafterhisearlyboyhoodheseemsusuallytohavegonetochurchandnottoMr。Case’s。Itappears（"St。James’Gazette"，Dec。15，1883）thatamuraltablethasbeenerectedtohismemoryinthechapel，whichisnowknownasthe’FreeChristianChurch。’）mytastefornaturalhistory，andmoreespeciallyforcollecting，waswelldeveloped。Itriedtomakeoutthenamesofplants（Rev。W。A。
Leighton，whowasaschoolfellowofmyfather’satMr。Case’sschool，remembershisbringingaflowertoschoolandsayingthathismotherhadtaughthimhowbylookingattheinsideoftheblossomthenameoftheplantcouldbediscovered。Mr。Leightongoeson，"Thisgreatlyrousedmyattentionandcuriosity，andIenquiredofhimrepeatedlyhowthiscouldbedone？"——buthislessonwasnaturallyenoughnottransmissible。——F。D。），andcollectedallsortsofthings，shells，seals，franks，coins，andminerals。
Thepassionforcollectingwhichleadsamantobeasystematicnaturalist，avirtuoso，oramiser，wasverystronginme，andwasclearlyinnate，asnoneofmysistersorbrothereverhadthistaste。
Onelittleeventduringthisyearhasfixeditselfveryfirmlyinmymind，andIhopethatithasdonesofrommyconsciencehavingbeenafterwardssorelytroubledbyit;itiscuriousasshowingthatapparentlyIwasinterestedatthisearlyageinthevariabilityofplants！Itoldanotherlittleboy（IbelieveitwasLeighton，whoafterwardsbecameawell—knownlichenologistandbotanist），thatIcouldproducevariouslycolouredpolyanthusesandprimrosesbywateringthemwithcertaincolouredfluids，whichwasofcourseamonstrousfable，andhadneverbeentriedbyme。I
mayherealsoconfessthatasalittleboyIwasmuchgiventoinventingdeliberatefalsehoods，andthiswasalwaysdoneforthesakeofcausingexcitement。Forinstance，Ioncegatheredmuchvaluablefruitfrommyfather’streesandhiditintheshrubbery，andthenraninbreathlesshastetospreadthenewsthatIhaddiscoveredahoardofstolenfruit。
ImusthavebeenaverysimplelittlefellowwhenIfirstwenttotheschool。AboyofthenameofGarnetttookmeintoacakeshoponeday，andboughtsomecakesforwhichhedidnotpay，astheshopmantrustedhim。
WhenwecameoutIaskedhimwhyhedidnotpayforthem，andheinstantlyanswered，"Why，doyounotknowthatmyuncleleftagreatsumofmoneytothetownonconditionthateverytradesmanshouldgivewhateverwaswantedwithoutpaymenttoanyonewhoworehisoldhatandmoved[it]inaparticularmanner？"andhethenshowedmehowitwasmoved。Hethenwentintoanothershopwherehewastrusted，andaskedforsomesmallarticle，movinghishatinthepropermanner，andofcourseobtaineditwithoutpayment。Whenwecameouthesaid，"Nowifyouliketogobyyourselfintothatcake—shop（howwellIrememberitsexactposition）Iwilllendyoumyhat，andyoucangetwhateveryoulikeifyoumovethehatonyourheadproperly。"Igladlyacceptedthegenerousoffer，andwentinandaskedforsomecakes，movedtheoldhatandwaswalkingoutoftheshop，whentheshopmanmadearushatme，soIdroppedthecakesandranfordearlife，andwasastonishedbybeinggreetedwithshoutsoflaughterbymyfalsefriendGarnett。
IcansayinmyownfavourthatIwasasaboyhumane，butIowedthisentirelytotheinstructionandexampleofmysisters。Idoubtindeedwhetherhumanityisanaturalorinnatequality。Iwasveryfondofcollectingeggs，butInevertookmorethanasingleeggoutofabird’snest，exceptononesingleoccasion，whenItookall，notfortheirvalue，butfromasortofbravado。
Ihadastrongtasteforangling，andwouldsitforanynumberofhoursonthebankofariverorpondwatchingthefloat;whenatMaer（Thehouseofhisuncle，JosiahWedgwood。）IwastoldthatIcouldkillthewormswithsaltandwater，andfromthatdayIneverspittedalivingworm，thoughattheexpenseprobablyofsomelossofsuccess。
Onceasaverylittleboywhilstatthedayschool，orbeforethattime，I
actedcruelly，forIbeatapuppy，Ibelieve，simplyfromenjoyingthesenseofpower;butthebeatingcouldnothavebeensevere，forthepuppydidnothowl，ofwhichIfeelsure，asthespotwasnearthehouse。Thisactlayheavilyonmyconscience，asisshownbymyrememberingtheexactspotwherethecrimewascommitted。Itprobablylayalltheheavierfrommyloveofdogsbeingthen，andforalongtimeafterwards，apassion。
Dogsseemedtoknowthis，forIwasanadeptinrobbingtheirlovefromtheirmasters。
IrememberclearlyonlyoneotherincidentduringthisyearwhilstatMr。
Case’sdailyschool，——namely，theburialofadragoonsoldier;anditissurprisinghowclearlyIcanstillseethehorsewiththeman’semptybootsandcarbinesuspendedtothesaddle，andthefiringoverthegrave。Thisscenedeeplystirredwhateverpoeticfancytherewasinme。
Inthesummerof1818IwenttoDr。Butler’sgreatschoolinShrewsbury，andremainedthereforsevenyearsstillMidsummer1825，whenIwassixteenyearsold。Iboardedatthisschool，sothatIhadthegreatadvantageoflivingthelifeofatrueschoolboy;butasthedistancewashardlymorethanamiletomyhome，Iveryoftenranthereinthelongerintervalsbetweenthecallingsoverandbeforelockingupatnight。This，Ithink，wasinmanywaysadvantageoustomebykeepinguphomeaffectionsandinterests。IrememberintheearlypartofmyschoollifethatIoftenhadtorunveryquicklytobeintime，andfrombeingafleetrunnerwasgenerallysuccessful;butwhenindoubtIprayedearnestlytoGodtohelpme，andIwellrememberthatIattributedmysuccesstotheprayersandnottomyquickrunning，andmarvelledhowgenerallyIwasaided。
IhaveheardmyfatherandeldersistersaythatIhad，asaveryyoungboy，astrongtasteforlongsolitarywalks;butwhatIthoughtaboutI
knownot。Ioftenbecamequiteabsorbed，andonce，whilstreturningtoschoolonthesummitoftheoldfortificationsroundShrewsbury，whichhadbeenconvertedintoapublicfoot—pathwithnoparapetononeside，I
walkedoffandfelltotheground，buttheheightwasonlysevenoreightfeet。Neverthelessthenumberofthoughtswhichpassedthroughmymindduringthisveryshort，butsuddenandwhollyunexpectedfall，wasastonishing，andseemhardlycompatiblewithwhatphysiologistshave，I
believe，provedabouteachthoughtrequiringquiteanappreciableamountoftime。
NothingcouldhavebeenworseforthedevelopmentofmymindthanDr。
Butler’sschool，asitwasstrictlyclassical，nothingelsebeingtaught，exceptalittleancientgeographyandhistory。Theschoolasameansofeducationtomewassimplyablank。DuringmywholelifeIhavebeensingularlyincapableofmasteringanylanguage。Especialattentionwaspaidtoverse—making，andthisIcouldneverdowell。Ihadmanyfriends，andgottogetheragoodcollectionofoldverses，whichbypatchingtogether，sometimesaidedbyotherboys，Icouldworkintoanysubject。
Muchattentionwaspaidtolearningbyheartthelessonsofthepreviousday;thisIcouldeffectwithgreatfacility，learningfortyorfiftylinesofVirgilorHomer，whilstIwasinmorningchapel;butthisexercisewasutterlyuseless，foreveryversewasforgotteninforty—eighthours。Iwasnotidle，andwiththeexceptionofversification，generallyworkedconscientiouslyatmyclassics，notusingcribs。ThesolepleasureIeverreceivedfromsuchstudies，wasfromsomeoftheodesofHorace，whichI
admiredgreatly。
WhenIlefttheschoolIwasformyageneitherhighnorlowinit;andI
believethatIwasconsideredbyallmymastersandbymyfatherasaveryordinaryboy，ratherbelowthecommonstandardinintellect。Tomydeepmortificationmyfatheroncesaidtome，"Youcarefornothingbutshooting，dogs，andrat—catching，andyouwillbeadisgracetoyourselfandallyourfamily。"Butmyfather，whowasthekindestmanIeverknewandwhosememoryIlovewithallmyheart，musthavebeenangryandsomewhatunjustwhenheusedsuchwords。
LookingbackaswellasIcanatmycharacterduringmyschoollife，theonlyqualitieswhichatthisperiodpromisedwellforthefuture，were，thatIhadstronganddiversifiedtastes，muchzealforwhateverinterestedme，andakeenpleasureinunderstandinganycomplexsubjectorthing。I
wastaughtEuclidbyaprivatetutor，andIdistinctlyremembertheintensesatisfactionwhichthecleargeometricalproofsgaveme。Iremember，withequaldistinctness，thedelightwhichmyunclegaveme（thefatherofFrancisGalton）byexplainingtheprincipleofthevernierofabarometer。
withrespecttodiversifiedtastes，independentlyofscience，Iwasfondofreadingvariousbooks，andIusedtositforhoursreadingthehistoricalplaysofShakespeare，generallyinanoldwindowinthethickwallsoftheschool。Ireadalsootherpoetry，suchasThomson’s’Seasons，’andtherecentlypublishedpoemsofByronandScott。ImentionthisbecauselaterinlifeIwhollylost，tomygreatregret，allpleasurefrompoetryofanykind，includingShakespeare。Inconnectionwithpleasurefrompoetry，I
mayaddthatin1822avividdelightinscenerywasfirstawakenedinmymind，duringaridingtouronthebordersofWales，andthishaslastedlongerthananyotheraestheticpleasure。
Earlyinmyschooldaysaboyhadacopyofthe’WondersoftheWorld，’
whichIoftenread，anddisputedwithotherboysabouttheveracityofsomeofthestatements;andIbelievethatthisbookfirstgavemeawishtotravelinremotecountries，whichwasultimatelyfulfilledbythevoyageofthe"Beagle"。InthelatterpartofmyschoollifeIbecamepassionatelyfondofshooting;IdonotbelievethatanyonecouldhaveshownmorezealforthemostholycausethanIdidforshootingbirds。HowwellIrememberkillingmyfirstsnipe，andmyexcitementwassogreatthatIhadmuchdifficultyinreloadingmygunfromthetremblingofmyhands。Thistastelongcontinued，andIbecameaverygoodshot。WhenatCambridgeIusedtopractisethrowingupmyguntomyshoulderbeforealooking—glasstoseethatIthrewitupstraight。Anotherandbetterplanwastogetafriendtowaveaboutalightedcandle，andthentofireatitwithacaponthenipple，andiftheaimwasaccuratethelittlepuffofairwouldblowoutthecandle。Theexplosionofthecapcausedasharpcrack，andIwastoldthatthetutorofthecollegeremarked，"Whatanextraordinarythingitis，Mr。Darwinseemstospendhoursincrackingahorse—whipinhisroom，forI
oftenhearthecrackwhenIpassunderhiswindows。"
Ihadmanyfriendsamongsttheschoolboys，whomIloveddearly，andIthinkthatmydispositionwasthenveryaffectionate。
Withrespecttoscience，Icontinuedcollectingmineralswithmuchzeal，butquiteunscientifically——allthatIcaredaboutwasanew—NAMEDmineral，andIhardlyattemptedtoclassifythem。Imusthaveobservedinsectswithsomelittlecare，forwhentenyearsold（1819）IwentforthreeweekstoPlasEdwardsonthesea—coastinWales，IwasverymuchinterestedandsurprisedatseeingalargeblackandscarletHemipterousinsect，manymoths（Zygaena），andaCicindelawhicharenotfoundinShropshire。I
almostmadeupmymindtobegincollectingalltheinsectswhichIcouldfinddead，foronconsultingmysisterIconcludedthatitwasnotrighttokillinsectsforthesakeofmakingacollection。FromreadingWhite’s’Selborne，’Itookmuchpleasureinwatchingthehabitsofbirds，andevenmadenotesonthesubject。InmysimplicityIrememberwonderingwhyeverygentlemandidnotbecomeanornithologist。
Towardsthecloseofmyschoollife，mybrotherworkedhardatchemistry，andmadeafairlaboratorywithproperapparatusinthetool—houseinthegarden，andIwasallowedtoaidhimasaservantinmostofhisexperiments。Hemadeallthegasesandmanycompounds，andIreadwithgreatcareseveralbooksonchemistry，suchasHenryandParkes’’ChemicalCatechism。’Thesubjectinterestedmegreatly，andweoftenusedtogoonworkingtillratherlateatnight。Thiswasthebestpartofmyeducationatschool，foritshowedmepracticallythemeaningofexperimentalscience。Thefactthatweworkedatchemistrysomehowgotknownatschool，andasitwasanunprecedentedfact，Iwasnicknamed"Gas。"Iwasalsooncepubliclyrebukedbythehead—master，Dr。Butler，forthuswastingmytimeonsuchuselesssubjects;andhecalledmeveryunjustlya"pococurante，"andasIdidnotunderstandwhathemeant，itseemedtomeafearfulreproach。