246 'VARIATION UNDER DOMESTICATION.' [1867. 



Do you consider the holding of your theory of Natural 

 Selection, in its fullest and most unreserved sense, to be 

 inconsistent — I do not say with any particular scheme of 

 theological doctrine — but with the following belief, namely : — 



That knowledge is given to man by the direct inspiration 

 of the Spirit of God. 



That God is a personal and Infinitely good Being. 



That the effect of the action of the Spirit of God on the 

 brain of man is especially a moral effect. 



And that each individual man has within certain limits a 

 power of choice as to how far he will yield to his hereditary 

 animal impulses, and how far he will rather follow the guid- 

 ance of the Spirit, who is educating him into a power of re- 

 sisting those impulses in obedience to moral motives? 



The reason why I ask you is this : my own impression has 

 always been, not only that your theory was perfectly co7n- 

 patible with the faith to which I have just tried to give 

 expression, but that your books afforded me a clue which 

 would guide me in applying that faith to the solution of 

 certain complicated psychological problems which it was 

 of practical importance to me as a' mother to solve. I felt 

 that you had supplied one of the missing links — not to say 

 the missing link — between the facts of science and the prom- 

 ises of religion. Every year's experience tends to deepen 

 in me that impression. 



But I have lately read remarks on the probable bearing of 

 your theory on religious and moral questions which have 

 perplexed and pained me sorely. I know that the persons 

 who make such remarks must be cleverer and wiser than 

 myself. I cannot feel sure that they are mistaken, unless 

 you will tell me so. And I think — I cannot know for certain 

 — but I think — that if I were an author, I would rather that 

 the humblest student of my works should apply to me directly 



At the present time such statements must appear strange to any one who 

 does not recollect the revolution in opinion which has taken place during 

 the last 23 years [1882]." 



