368 SPREAD OF EVOLUTION. [l86l. 



permitted to send you a copy of the new edition, just pub- 

 lished, in which I have added and corrected somewhat in 

 Chapters IX. and X. 



Pray excuse this long letter, and believe me, 



My dear Sir, yours very faithfully, 



C. Darwin. 



P.S. I write so bad a hand that I have had this note- 

 copied. 



C. Darwin to Thomas Davidson. 



Down, April 30, 1861. 



My DEAR Sir, I thank you warmly for your letter ; I did 

 not in the least know that you had attended to my work. I 

 assure you that the attention which you have paid to it, con- 

 sidering your knowledge and the philosophical tone of your 

 mind (for I well remember one remarkable letter you wrote 

 to me, and have looked through your various publications), 

 I consider one of the highest, perhaps the very highest, com- 

 pliments which I have received. I live so solitary a life that 

 I do not often hear what goes on, and I should much like to 

 know in what work you have published some remarks on my 

 book. I take a deep interest in the subject, and I hope not 

 simply an egotistical interest ; therefore you may believe how 

 much your letter has gratified me ; I am perfectly contented 

 if any one will fairly consider the subject, whether or not he 

 fully or only very slightly agrees with me. Pray do not 

 think that I feel the least surprise at your demurring to a 

 ready acceptance ; in fact, I should not much respect anyone's 

 judgment who did so : that is, if I may judge others from 

 the long time which it has taken me to go round. Each 

 stage of belief cost me years. The difficulties are, as you say, 

 many and very great ; but the more I reflect, the more they 

 seem to me to be due to our underestimating our ignorance. 

 I belong so much to old times that I find that I weigh 



