136 CHARLES KINGSLEY. [l859. 



to inform me of the result of your visit to Le Puy, and with 

 thanks for your last long letter, I am, ever truly yours, 



J. PRESTWICH. 



I enclose you a curious proces verbal I have received from 

 M. de Perthes. Please return it to him if you pass through 

 Abbeville. 



The following letter from the Rev. Charles Kingsley 

 must have given pleasure to our geologist : 



EVERSLEY KECTORY, WINCHFIELD, 

 C. Kingsley to J. Prestwich. August 26, 1859. 



MY DEAR Sm, I have to thank you for what I had no 

 right to expect sending me your pamphlet on the flint arrow- 

 heads of Abbeville, &c. 



From your conclusion there can be no dissent. I, last of all 

 men, should wish to impugn it from other causes : I have long 

 expected some such discovery. I regret much that I missed Dr 

 Falconer's paper on the Brixham Cave. Perhaps you would 

 kindly tell me where I can obtain it. 



You, I am sure, will appreciate the immense importance of 

 your own statement. If corroborated, it must lead to a recon- 

 sideration and rearrangement of beliefs, as well as of geologic 

 theories. It seems to me the greatest stride forward which has 

 been made since the Semitic tradition of the six-days' creation 

 was abandoned as untenable. 



That religious persons will be angry, and try to crush the 

 truth, you must expect. But I must compliment you on the 

 modesty and tact with which you have at least staved off the 

 evil day, by confining yourself to facts, and building no theories 

 on them. By such a method, sound science will gain a firm root 

 in thinking minds before the ignorant and suspicious public is 

 even aware of its existence. 



I must take this opportunity of expressing to you my deep 

 obligations, as to the man who has taught me to find boundless 

 interest and instruction in those barren Bagshot Sands on which 

 I live, and hope to die. Believe me, ever yours, 



C. KINGSLEY. 



Ignorant of your address, I send this to Burlington House. 



