I859-] 



AGASSIZ. 



215 



so slight a degree, shaken any of your objections. Farewell. 

 With my cordial thanks for your long letters and valuable 

 remarks, 



Believe me, yours most truly, 



C. Darwin. 



P.S. You often allude to Lamarck's work ; I do not know 

 what you think about it, but it appeared to me extremely 

 poor ; I got not a fact or idea from it. 



C. Darwin to L. Agassiz* 



Down, November nth [1859]. 



My DEAR Sir, I have ventured to send you a copy of my 

 book (as yet only an abstract) on the ' Origin of Species.' 

 As the conclusions at which I have arrived on several points 

 differ so widely from yours, I have thought (should you at 

 any time read my volume) that you might think that I had 

 sent it to you out of a spirit of defiance or bravado ; but I 

 assure you that I act under a wholly different frame of mind. 

 I hope that you will at least give me credit, however erro- 

 neous you may think my conclusions, for having earnestly 

 endeavoured to arrive at the truth. With sincere respect, 



I beg leave to remain, 



Yours very faithfully, 



Charles Darwin. 



* Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz, 

 born at Mortier,onthelakeof Morat 

 in Switzerland, on May 28, 1807. 

 He emigrated to America in 1846, 

 where he spent the rest of his life, 

 and died Dec. 14, 1873. His ' Life,' 

 written by his widow, was published 

 in 1885. The following extract from 

 a letter to Agassiz (1850) is worth 

 giving, as showing how my father 

 regarded him, and it may be added 

 that his cordial feelings towards the 

 great American naturalist remained 

 : strong to the end of his life : 



" I have seldom been more deeply 

 gratified than by receiving your 

 most kind present of ' Lake Su- 

 perior.' I had heard of it, and had 

 much wished to read it, but I con- 

 fess that it was the very great 

 honour of having in my posses- 

 sion a work with your autograph 

 as a presentation copy, that has 

 given me such lively and sincere 

 pleasure. I cordially thank you 

 for it. I have begun to read it 

 with uncommon interest, which I 

 see will increase as I go on." 



