i860.] clerical opinions. 287 



thank you for your generous aid in discussing a view, about 

 which you very properly hold yourself unbiassed. 



My dear Gray, yours most sincerely, 



C. Darwin. 



P.S. Several clergymen go far with me. Rev. L. Jenyns, a 

 very good naturalist. Henslow will go a very little way with 

 me, and is not shocked at me. He has just been visiting me. 



[With regard to the attitude of the more liberal repre- 

 sentatives of the Church, the following letter (already referred 

 to) from Charles Kingsley is of interest :] 



C. Kingsley to C. Darwin. 



Eversley Rectory, Winchfield, 



November 18th, 1S59. 



Dear Sir, I have to thank you for the unexpected 

 honour of your book. That the Naturalist whom, of all 

 naturalists living, I most wish to know and to learn from, 

 should have sent a scientist like me his book, encourages me 

 at least to observe more carefully, and think more slowly. 



I am so poorly (in brain), that I fear I cannot read your 

 book just now as I ought. All I have seen of it azves me ; 

 both with the heap of facts and the prestige of your name, 

 and also with the clear intuition, that if you be right, I must 

 give up much that I have believed and written. 



In that I care little. Let God be true, and every man a 

 liar ! Let us know what is, and, as old Socrates has it, eireo-Oat, 

 tco \6yq> follow up the villainous shifty fox of an argument, 

 into whatsoever unexpected bogs and brakes he may lead us, 

 if we do but run into him at last. 



From two common superstitions, at least, I shall be free 

 while judging of your book : 



. (1.) I have long since, from watching the crossing of 

 domesticated animals and plants, learnt to disbelieve the 

 dogma of the permanence of species. 



