f 



268 LONDON AND CAMBRIDGE. ^TAT. 29. [1838. 



is very bad for the intellects ; the Scotch mists will put out 

 some volcanic speculations. You see I am affecting to be- 

 come very Cockneyfied, and to despise the poor country- 

 folk, who breathe fresh air instead of smoke, and see the 

 goodly fields instead of the brick houses in Marlborough 

 Street, the very sight of which I confess I abhor. I am glad 

 to hear what a favourable report you give of the British 

 Association. I am the more pleased because I have been 

 fighting its battles with Basil Hall, Stokes, and several others, 

 having made up my mind, from the report in the Athenccu^n, 

 that it must have been an excellent meeting. I have been 

 much amused with an account I have received of the wars of 

 Don Roderick* and Babbage. What a grievous pity it is 

 that the latter should be so implacable. . . . This is a most 

 rigmarole letter, for after each sentence I take breath, and 

 you will have need of it in reading it. . . . 



I wish with all my heart that my Geological book was out. 

 I have every motive to work hard, and will, following your 

 steps, work just that degree of hardness to keep well. I 

 should like my volume to be out before your new edition of 

 ' Principles ' appears. Besides the Coral theory, the volcanic 

 chapters will, I think, contain some new facts. I have lately 

 been sadly tempted to be idle — that is, as far as pure geology 

 ;is concerned — by the delightful number of new views which 

 Ihave been coming in thickly and steadily, — on the classifica- 

 tion and affinities and instincts of animals — bearing on the 

 question of species. Note-book after note-book has been 

 filled with facts which begin to group themselves clearly un- 

 der sub-laws. 



Good night, my dear Lyell. I have filled my letter and 

 enjoyed my talk to you as much as I can without having you 

 in propria persona. Think of the bad effects of the country — 

 so once more good night. Ever yours, 



Chas. Darwin. 



Pray again give my best thanks to Mrs. Lyell. 



* Murchison. 



