THE ' ANTIQUITY OF MAN ' 31 



asserting a subsidence of Arctic America, which never 

 entered into my head. . . . Indeed I need hardly say that 

 I set out on Biological grounds, and hold myself as inde- 

 pendent of theories of subsidence as you do of the opinions 

 of Physicists on heat of Globe ! (November 2, 1862.) 



In fact he had been over the geological ground twice, 

 with Lyell, and again with Hector. Dawson's review, as he 

 tells Darwin, he treated with scant respect, and in the course 

 of discussing his geological argument roundly told the writer 



that it was impossible to entertain a strong opinion against 

 the Darwinian hypothesis without its giving rise to a mental 

 twist when viewing matters in which that hypothesis was or 

 might be involved. I told him I felt that this was so with 

 me when I opposed you, and that all minds are subject to 

 such obliquities ! the Lord help me, and this to an LL.D. and 

 Principal of a College ! * 



As a curious anthropological pendant to the whole question 

 he notes the following to Darwin (November 2) : 



By the way, do you see the Athenceum notice of L. 

 Bonaparte's Basque and Finnish language — is it not possible 

 that the Basques are Finns left behind after the Glacial 

 period, like the Arctic plants ! I have often thought this theory 

 would explain the Mexican and Chinese national affinities. 



At the end of 1862 the scientific world was anxiously 

 awaiting the appearance of Lyell's book, * The Antiquity of 

 Man,' which was to proclaim definitely his acceptance of the 

 mutability of species — rare instance of a man past sixty being 

 converted from the opinion of a lifetime. The book appeared 

 in March 1863. The situation of the moment and the 

 unceasing expansion of Darwin's research work are Hooker's 

 theme in the following. 



To Brian Hodgson 



December 6, 1862. 



You ask about Lyell. I saw him the other day, still 

 polishing away at his work on age of man, which he told me 



1 See the letter of November 9, 1862, in M.L. i. 209. 



