1864-1869] NATURAL SELECTION 271 



common, and I still think it some advantage. I wish I had Letter 191 

 received your letter t\vo months ago, for I would have worked 

 in " the survival," etc., often in the new edition of the Origin, 

 which is now almost printed off, and of which I will of course 

 send you a copy. I will use the term in my next book on 

 domestic animals, etc., from which, by the way, I plainly see 

 that you expect much too much. The term Natural Selection 

 has now been so largely used abroad and at home that I 

 doubt whether it could be given up, and with all its faults 

 I should be sorry to see the attempt made. Whether it will 

 be rejected must now depend "on the survival of the fittest." 

 As in time the term must grow intelligible the objections to 

 its use will grow weaker and weaker. I doubt whether the 

 use of any term would have made the subject intelligible to 

 some minds, clear as it is to others ; for do we not see even 

 to the present day Malthus on Population absurdly misunder- 

 stood ? This reflection about Malthus has often comforted 

 me when I have been vexed at this misstatement of my 

 views. As for M. Janet, he is a metaphysician, and such 

 gentlemen are so acute that I think they often misunderstand 

 common folk. Your criticism on the double sense in which I 

 have used Natural Selection is new to me and unanswerable ; 

 but my blunder has done no harm, for I do not believe that 

 any one, excepting you, has ever observed it. Again, I agree 

 that I have said too much about " favourable variations," but 

 I am inclined to think that you put the opposite side too 

 strongly : if every part of every being varied, I do not think 

 we should see the same end or object gained by such wonder- 

 fully diversified means. 



I hope you are enjoying the country, and are in good 

 health, and are working hard at your Malay Archipelago book, 

 for I will always put this wish in every note I write to you, as 

 some good people always put in a text. My health keeps 

 much the same, or rather improves, and I am able to work 

 some hours daily. 



To C. Lyell. Letter 192 



Down, Oct. 9th [1866]. 



One line to say that I have received your note and the 

 proofs safely, and will read them with the greatest pleasure ; 

 but I am certain I shall not be able to send any criticism on 



