1865.] LYELL'S 'ELEMENTS.' 35 



C. Darwin to C. Lyell. 



Down, Feb. 21 [1865]. 



My dear Lyell, — I have taken a long time to thank you 

 very much for your present of the ' Elements.' 



I am going through it all, reading what is new, and what I 

 have forgotten, and this is a good deal. 



I am simply astonished at the amount of labour, knowledge, 

 and clear thought condensed in this work. The whole strikes 

 me as something quite grand. I have been particularly 

 interested by your account of Heer's work and your discussion 

 on the Atlantic Continent. I am particularly delighted at 

 the view which you take on this subject ; for I have long 

 thought Forbes did an ill service in so freely making 

 continents. 



I have also been very glad to read your argument on the 

 denudation of the Weald, and your excellent resume on the 

 Purbeck Beds ; and this is the point at which I have at present 

 arrived in your book. I cannot say that I am quite convinced 

 that there is no connection beyond that pointed out by you, 

 between glacial action and the formation of lake basins ; but 

 you will not much value my opinion on this head, as I have 

 already changed my mind some half-dozen times. 



I want to make a suggestion to you. I found the weight 

 of your volume intolerable, especially when lying down, so 

 with great boldness cut it into two pieces, and took it out of 

 its cover ; now could not Murray without any other change 

 add to his advertisement a line saying, " if bound in two 

 volumes, one shilling or one shilling and sixpence extra." You 

 thus might originate a change which would be a blessing to 

 all weak-handed readers. 



Believe me, my dear Lyell, 



Yours most sincerely, 



Charles Darwin, 

 d 2 



