CORRESPONDENCE WITH CHARLES DARWIN 



excepting one of separation of countries, on which per- 

 haps we differ a little. I admit that if we really now 

 know the beginning of life on this planet, it is absolutely 

 fatal to my views. I admit the same if the geological 

 record is riot excessively imperfect ; and I further admit 

 that the a priori probability is that no being lived below 

 our Cambrian era. 



" Nevertheless I grow yearly more convinced of the 

 general (with much incidental error) truth of my views. 

 I believe in this from rinding that my views embrace so 

 many phenomena and explain them to a large extent. 

 I am continually pleased by hearing of naturalists (within 

 the last month I have heard of four) who have come 

 round to a large extent to the belief of the modification 

 of species. As my book has been lately somewhat at- 

 tended to, perhaps it would have been better if, when 

 you condemned all such views, you had stated that you 

 had not been able yet to read it. But pray do not sup- 

 pose that I think for one instant that, with your strong 

 and slowly acquired convictions and immense knowledge, 

 you could have been converted. The utmost that I 

 could have hoped would have been that you might pos- 

 sibly have been here or there staggered. Indeed, I 

 should not much value any sudden conversion, for I 

 remember well how many years I fought against my pres- 

 ent belief. . . ." 



DANA TO DARWIN 



" NEW HAVEN, May 23, 1872. 



" I have addressed to you a copy of my book on Corals 

 and Coral Islands, and have commissioned my son, Ed- 

 ward S. Dana, to present himself along with it, and also 

 to assure you of my unfailing esteem, and my admiration 

 for your labors in behalf of Science. My son, having 

 graduated at our University, goes to Europe to continue 

 his studies in Science next autumn in Germany. In the 

 meantime he looks forward to excursions during the sum- 

 mer in the Alps, as one means of benefiting his health, 

 now somewhat impaired. 



I was sorry that your sons did not visit New Haven 

 when on this continent, and give me a chance to show 

 my appreciation of their father." 



315 



