CORRESPONDENCE WITH CHARLES DARWIN 



friendly battle with you on the Australian valleys. I 

 see I have not stated my side versus fresh water in nearly 

 enough detail. Did you not observe the great high 

 plains forming peninsulas running laterally into the 

 valleys (and I expect almost truly insulated masses) ? 

 These seem to me to be very improbable on the running- 

 water theory. Again, as far as I saw, and as appears on 

 maps, the line of drainage never seems to be at foot of 

 precipices on either side, and it appears to me that this 

 might be expected to occur here and there if the valleys 

 were still in process of excavation. But I had no inten- 

 tion to discuss this subject when I began, or to trouble 

 you with so very long a letter." 



DARWIN TO DANA 



Volcanoes 

 "DOWN, FARNBOROUGH, KENT, Sept. 9, 1852. 



" I make most snail-like progress in whatever I do. I 

 should think more thought passed through your head, 

 and words from your pen, in one day, than in ten through 

 mine. My weak health is partly my excuse. In the 

 spring I saw Abich, who has just returned from the Cau- 

 casus, where he has been studying, inter alia, the extinct 

 volcanoes; and he told Sir C. Lyell that there were many 

 points he was never able to understand until reading 

 your admirable chapters on the Sandwich Islands. I 

 sincerely hope that you are well, and that your multi- 

 farious and valuable labors are all prospering successfully." 



DARWIN TO DANA 

 Dana s " Crustacea " 

 "DOWN, FARNBOROUGH, KENT, Nov. 25, 1852. 



" I shall read with interest your geographical discus- 

 sion in Mr. Lubbock's copy when he can purchase it. 

 You ask whether I shall ever come to the United States. 

 I can assure you that no tour whatever could be half so 

 interesting to me, but with my large family I do not sup- 

 pose that I shall ever leave home. It would be a real 

 pleasure to me to make your personal acquaintance." 



309 



