1859-1863] mutton's review 193 



exactly where that stone or leaf should lie. In this sense Letter 131 

 the subject has no interest for me. 



Once again, many thanks for the orchids ; you must let 

 me repay you what you paid the collector. 



To C. Lyell. Letter 132 



The first paragraph probably refers to the proof-sheets of Lyell's 

 A)itiquity of Man, but the passage referred to seems not to occur in the 

 book. 



Torquay, Aug. 21st [1861]. 



... I have really no criticism, except a trifling one in 

 pencil near the end, which I have inserted on account of 

 dominant and important species generally varying most. 

 You speak of " their views " rather as if you were a thousand 

 miles away from such wretches, but your concluding paragraph 

 shows that you are one of the wretches. 



I am pleased that you approve of Hutton's review. 1 It 

 seemed to me to take a more philosophical view of the 

 manner of judging the question than any other review. "The 

 sentence you quote from it seems very true, but I do not 

 agree with the theological conclusion. I think he quotes 

 from Asa Gray, certainly not from me ; but I have neither 

 A. Gray nor Origin with me. Indeed, I have over and over 

 again said in the Origin that Natural Selection does nothing 

 without variability ; 1 have given a whole chapter on laws, 

 and used the strongest language how ignorant we are on 

 these laws. But I agree that I have somehow (Hooker says 

 it is owing to my title) not made the great and manifest 

 importance of previous variability plain enough. Breeders 

 constantly speak of Selection as the one great means of im- 

 provement ; but of course they imply individual differences, 

 and this I should have thought would have been obvious to 

 all in Natural Selection ; but it has not been so. 



I have just said that I cannot agree with " which 

 variations are the effects of an unknown law, ordained and 

 guided without doubt by an intelligent cause on a precon- 

 ceived and definite plan." Will you honestly tell me (and 

 I should be really much obliged) whether you believe that 

 the shape of my nose (eheu !) was ordained and "guided 



1 "Some Remarks on Mr. Darwin's Theory," by F. W. Hutton. 

 Geologist, Vol. IV., p. 132 (1861). See Letter 124. 



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