450 A CENTURY OF SCIENCE 



of view for some little time occasionally before your mind, I have 

 hopes that you will agree that more can be said in favour of the 

 mutability of species, than is at first apparent. It took me many 

 long years before I wholly gave up the common view of the sep- 

 arate creation of each species. Believe me, with sincere respect 

 and with cordial thanks for the many acts of scientific kindness 

 which I have received from you, 



My dear Sir, 

 Yours very sincerely, 



CHARLES DARWIN. 



In March, 1860 (29, 1.53), Gray published in the Journal 

 an elaborate and cautious review of Darwin's work. He 

 alluded to the absence of the chief editor of the Journal 

 in the following words : 



' 'The duty of reviewing this volume in the American Journal 

 of Science would naturally devolve upon the principal editor 

 whose wide observation and profound knowledge of various 

 departments of natural history, as well as of geology, particu- 

 larly qualify him for the task. But he has been obliged to lay 

 aside his pen to seek in distant lands the entire repose from 

 scientific labor so essential to the restoration of his health, a 

 consummation devoutly to be wished and confidently to be 

 expected. Interested as Mr. Dana would be in this volume, he 

 could not be expected to accept its doctrine. Views so idealistic 

 as those upon which his 'Thoughts upon Species' are grounded, 

 will not harmonize readily with a doctrine so thoroughly natur- 

 alistic as that of Mr. Darwin . . . Between the doctrines of 

 this volume and those of the great naturalist whose name adorns 

 the title-page of this Journal [Mr. Agassiz] the widest diver- 

 gence appears. " 



Gray then proceeds to contrast the two views of Dar- 

 win and Agassiz, "for this contrast brings out most 

 prominently and sets in strongest light and shade the 

 main features of the theory of the origination of species 

 by means of Natural Selection. " He then states both 

 sides with great fairness, and proceeds : 



"Who shall decide between such extreme views so ably main- 

 tained on either hand, and say how much truth there may be 

 in each. The present reviewer has not the presumption to under- 

 take such a task. Having no prepossession in favor of natur- 

 alistic theories, but struck with the eminent ability of Mr. 

 Darwin 's work, and charmed with its fairness, our humbler duty 

 will be performed if, laying aside prejudice as much as we can, 



