now I got exactly what I wanted, and I am very busy
for a few hours every morning; delighted to have an occupation so
entirely to my mind. I thank God that my intellect is still unimpaired.
I am grateful to Professor Peirce for giving me an opportunity of
exercising it so agreeably. During the rest of the day I have recourse
to Shakespeare, Dante, and more modern light reading, besides the
newspapers, which always interested me much. I have resumed my habit of
working, and can count the threads of a fine canvas without spectacles.
I receive every one who comes to see me, and often have the pleasure of
a visit from old friends very unexpectedly. In the evening I read a
novel, but my tragic days are over; I prefer a cheerful conversational
novel to the sentimental ones. I have recently been reading Walter
Scott's novels again, and enjoyed the broad Scotch in them. I play a few
games at Bezique with one of my daughters, for honour and glory, and so
our evenings pass pleasantly enough.

It is our habit to be separately occupied during the morning, and spend
the rest of the day together. We are fond of birds and have several, all
very tame. Our tame nightingales sing very beautifully, but, strange to
say, not at night. We have also some solitary sparrows, which are, in
fact, a variety of the thrush (Turdus cyaneus), and some birds which we
rescued from destruction in spring, when caught and ill-used by the boys
in the streets; besides, we have our dogs; all of which afford me
amusement and interest.

* * * * *

Mr. Murray has kindly sent me a copy of Darwin's recent work on the
"Descent of Man." Mr. Darwin maintains his theory with great talent and
with profound research. His knowledge of the characters and habits of
animals of all kinds is very great, and his kindly feelings charming. It
is chiefly by the feathered race that he has established his law of
selection relative to sex. The males of many birds are among the most
beautiful objects in nature; but that the beauty of nature is altogether
irrelative to man's admiration or appreciation, is strikingly proved by
the admirable sculpture on Diatoms and Foraminifera; beings whose very
existence was unknown prior to the invention of the microscope. The Duke
of Argyll has illustrated this in the "Reign of Law," by the variety,
graceful forms and beautiful colouring of the humming birds in forests
which man has never entered.

In Mr. Darwin's book i