ch. xiv.] 18611871. 261 



taining rational workable theory of Evolution. It was 

 therefore perfectly natural that he should speak of "my" 

 theory. 



Towards the end of the present year (1861) the final ar- 

 rangements for the first French edition of the Origin were 

 completed, and in September a copy of the third English 

 edition was despatched to Mdlle. Clemence Koyer, who un- 

 dertook the work of translation. The book was now spread- 

 ing on the Continent, a Dutch edition had appeared, and, 

 as we have seen, a German translation had been published 

 in 1860. In a letter to Mr. Murray (September 10, 1861), 

 he wrote, " My book seems exciting much attention in Ger- 

 many, judging from the number of discussions sent me." 

 The silence had been broken, and in a few years the voice 

 of German science was to become one of the strongest of 

 the advocates of Evolution. 



A letter, June 23, 1861, gave a pleasant echo from the 

 Continent of the growth of his views : 



Hugh Falconer* to C. Darwin. 31 Sackville St., W., June 



23, 1861. 



My dear Darwix, I have been to Adelsberg cave and 

 brought back with me a live Proteus anguinus, designed 

 for you from the moment I got it ; i.e. if you have got an 

 aquarium and would care to have it. I only returned last 

 night from the Continent, and hearing from your brother 

 that you are about to go to Torquay, I lose no time in mak- 

 ing you the offer. The poor dear animal is still alive 

 although it has had no appreciable means of sustenance for 

 a month and I am most anxious to get rid of the responsi- 

 bility of starving it longer. In your hands it will thrive 

 and have a fair chance of being developed without delay 

 into some type of the Columbidas say a Pouter or a Tum- 

 bler. 



My dear Darwin, I have been rambling through the 

 north of Italy, and Germany lately. Everywhere have I 

 heard your views and your admirable essay canvassed the 

 views of course often dissented from, according to the 

 special bias of the speaker but the work, its honesty of 

 purpose, grandeur of conception, felicity of illustration, and 



* Hugh Falconer, born 1809, died 1865. Chiefly known as a palseontolo- 



fist, although employed as a botanist during his whole career in India, where 

 e was a medical officer in the H. E. I. C. Service. 



