My distrust of Sabine is, as you know, chronic; and I went determined to keep careful watch on his address, lest some crafty phrase injurious to Darwin should be introduced.

My suspicions were justified, the only part of the address [relating] to Darwin written by Sabine himself containing the following passage: "'Speaking generally and collectively, we have expressly omitted it [Darwin's theory] from the grounds of our award.' "Of course this would be interpreted by everybody as meaning that after due discussion, the council had formally resolved not only to exclude Darwin's theory from the grounds of the award, but to give public notice through the president that they had done so, and, furthermore, that Darwin's friends had been base enough to accept an honour for him on the understanding that in receiving it he should be publicly insulted! "I felt that this would never do, and therefore, when the resolution for printing the address was moved, I made a speech, which I took care to keep perfectly cool and temperate, disavowing all intention of interfering with the liberty of the president to say what he pleased, but exercising my constitutional right of requiring the minutes of council making the award to be read, in order that the Society might be informed whether the conditions implied by Sabine had been imposed or not.
"The resolution was read, and of course nothing of the kind appeared.
Sabine didn't exactly like it, I believe.

Both Busk and Falconer remonstrated against the passage to him, and I hope it will be withdrawn when the address is printed.

If not, there will be an awful row, and I for one will show no mercy.") In forming an estimate of the value and extent of Mr.Darwin's researches, due regard ought to be had to the circumstances under which they have been carried out--a pressure of unremitting disease, which has latterly left him not more than one or two hours of the day which he could call his own.
LETTER 181.

TO HUGH FALCONER.