1863.] 'ANTIQUITY OF MAN.' 13 



" My feelings, however, more than any thought about 

 policy or expediency, prevent me from dogmatising as to 

 the descent of man from the brutes, which, though I am 

 prepared to accept it, takes away much of the charm from 

 my speculations on the past relating to such matters. . . . 

 But you ought to be satisfied, as I shall bring hundreds 

 towards you who, if I treated the matter more dogmatically 

 would have rebelled."! 



C. Darwin to C. Lyell. 



Down, 1 2th [March, 1863]. 



MY DEAR LYELL, I thank you for your very interesting 

 and kind, I may say, charming letter. I feared you might be 

 huffed for a little time with me. I know some men would 

 have been so. I have hardly any more criticisms, anyhow, 

 worth writing. But I may mention that I felt a little surprise 

 that old B. de Perthes * was not rather more honourably men- 

 tioned. I would suggest whether you could not leave out 

 some references to the ' Principles ; ' one for the real student 

 is as good as a hundred, and it is rather irritating, and gives 

 a feeling of incompleteness to the general reader to be often 

 referred to other books. As you say that you have gone as far 

 as you believe on the species question, I have not a word to 

 say ; but I must feel convinced that at times, judging from 

 conversation, expressions, letters, &c., you have as completely 

 given up belief in immutability of specific forms as I have 

 done. I must still think a clear expression from you, if you 

 could have given it> would have been potent with the public, 

 and all the more so, as you formerly held opposite opinions. 

 The more I work, the more satisfied I become with variation 

 and natural selection, but that part of the case I look at as 

 less important, though more interesting to me personally. As 

 you ask for criticisms on this head (and believe me that 



* Born 1788, died 1868. See footnote, p. 16. 



