1 874.] MR. MIVART. 185 



When considering the part of Mr. Mivart's book relating to 

 Natural and Sexual Selection, Mr. Wallace says : " In his 

 violent attack on Mr. Darwin's theories our author uses 

 unusually strong language. Not content with mere argu- 

 ment, he expresses ' reprobation of Mr. Darwin's views ' ; and 

 asserts that though he (Mr. Darwin) has been obliged, 

 virtually, to give up his theory, it is still maintained by 

 Darwinians with ' unscrupulous audacity,' and the actual 

 repudiation of it concealed by the ' conspiracy of silence.' ' 

 Mr. Wallace goes on to show that these charges are without 

 foundation, and points out that, " If there is one thing more 

 than another for which Mr. Darwin is pre-eminent among 

 modern literary and scientific men, it is for his perfect literary 

 honesty, his self-abnegation in confessing himself wrong, and 

 the eager haste with which he proclaims and even magnifies 

 small errors in his works, for the most part discovered by 

 himself." 



The following extract from a letter to Mr. Wallace (June 

 17th) refers to Mr. Mivart's statement ('Lessons from Nature,' 

 p. 144) that Mr. Darwin at first studiously disguised his views 

 as to the " bestiality of man " : — 



" I have only just heard of and procured your two articles 

 in the 'Academy.' I thank you most cordially for your 

 generous defence of me against Mr. Mivart. In the ' Origin ' 

 I did not discuss the derivation of any one species ; but that 

 I might not be accused of concealing my opinion, I went out 

 of my way, and inserted a sentence which seemed to me (and 

 still so seems) to disclose plainly my belief. This was quoted 

 in my ' Descent of Man.' Therefore it is very unjust ... of 

 Mr. Mivart to accuse me of base fraudulent concealment." 



The letter which here follows is of interest in connection 

 with the discussion, in the ' Descent of Man,' on the origin of 

 the musical sense in man :] 



