i86o.] PICTET— SEDGWICK. 9I 



just, and I agree to every word he says ; our only difference 

 being that he attaches less weight to arguments in favour, , 

 and more to arguments opposed, than I do. Of all the op- 

 posed reviews, I think this the only quite fair one, and I never 

 expected to see one. Flease observe that I do not class your 

 review by any means as opposed, though you think so your- | 

 self ! It has done me much too good service ever to appear 

 in that rank in my eyes. But I fear I shall weary you with 

 so much about my book. I should rather think there was a 

 good chance of my becoming the most egotistical man in all 

 Europe ! What a proud pre-eminence ! Well, you have 

 helped to make me so and therefore you must forgive me if 

 you can. 



My dear Gray, ever yours most gratefully, 



C. Darwin. 



[In a letter to Sir Charles Lyell reference is made to 

 Sedgwick's review in the Spectator^ March 24 : 



" I now feel certain that Sedgwick is the author of the 

 article in the Spectator. No one else could use such abusive 

 terms. And what a misrepresentation of my notions ! Any 

 ignoramus would suppose that I had T^ri"/ broached the doc- 

 trine, that the breaks between successive formations marked 

 long intervals of time. It is very unfair. But poor dear old 

 Sedgwick seems rabid on the question. " Demoralised under-|f 

 standing ! " If ever I talk with him I will tell him that I 

 never could believe that an inquisitor could be a good man ; 

 but now I know that a man m.ay roast another, and yet have 

 as kind and noble a heart as Sedgwick's." 



The following passages are taken from the review : 



" I need hardly go on any further vvath these objections. 

 But I cannot conclude without expressing my detestation of 



riiistoire cles types a formes bien tranchees et definies qui paraissent 

 n'avoir vecu que pendant un temps limite. On en pourrait citer des cen- 

 taines d'exemples, tel que les reptiles volants, les ichthyosaures, les be- 

 lemnites, les ammonites, &c." Pictet was born in 1809, died 1872 ; he 

 was Professor of Anatomy and Zoology at Geneva. 



