1 859.] MR. HUXLEY'S ADHERENCE. 233 



paper for this volume, I had awful misgivings ; and thought 

 perhaps I had deluded myself, like so many have done, 

 and I then fixed in my mind three judges, on whose decision 

 I determined mentally to abide. The judges were Lyell, 

 Hooker, and yourself. It was this which made me so exces- 

 sively anxious for your verdict. I am now contented, and 

 can sing my "nunc dimittis." What a joke it would be if I 

 pat you on the back when you attack some immovable crea- 

 tionists ! You have most cleverly hit on one point, which has 

 greatly troubled me ; if, as I must think, external conditions 

 produce little direct effect, what the devil determines each 

 particular variation ? What makes a tuft of feathers come 

 on a cock's head, or moss on a moss-rose ? I shall much like 

 to talk over this with you. . . . 



My dear Huxley, I thank you cordially for your letter. 



Yours very sincerely, 



C. Darwin. 



P.S. Hereafter I shall be particularly curious to hear what 

 you think of my explanation of Embryological similarity. 

 On classification I fear we shall split. Did you perceive the 

 argumentum ad hominem Huxley about the kangaroo and 

 bear? 



Erasmus Darwin to C. Darwin. 



November 23rd [1859]. 



DEAR CHARLES, I am so much weaker in the head, that 

 I hardly know if I can write, but at all events I will jot down 

 a few things that the Dr.* has said. He has not read much 

 above half, so as he says he can give no definite conclusion, 

 and it is my private belief he wishes to remain in that state. 

 . . . He is evidently in a dreadful state of indecision, and 

 keeps stating that he is not tied down to either view^ and that 

 he has always left an escape by the way he has spoken of 



* Dr., afterwards Sir Henry Holland. 



