42 SPREAD OF EVOLUTION. [1866. 



No one could dissent from my views on the modification of 

 species with more courtesy than you do. But from the tenor 

 of your mind I feel an entire and comfortable conviction 

 (and which cannot possibly be disturbed) that if your studies 

 led you to attend much to general questions in natural 

 history you would come to the same conclusion that I have 

 done. 



Have you ever read Huxley's little book of Lectures? 

 I would gladly send you a copy if you think you would 

 read it. 



Considering what Geology teaches us, the argument from 

 the supposed immutability of specific types seems to me 

 much the same as if, in a nation which had no old writings, 

 some wise old savage was to say that his language had never 

 changed ; but my metaphor is too long to fill up. 



Pray believe me, dear Sir, yours very sincerely obliged, 



C. DARWIN. 



1866. 



[The year 1866 is given in my father's Diary in the fol- 

 lowing words : 



" Continued correcting chapters of ' Domestic Animals.' 



March 1st. Began on 4th edition of * Origin ' of 1250 

 copies (received for it ^238), making 7500 copies altogether. 



May loth. Finished ' Origin,' except revises, and began 

 going over Chapter XIII. of * Domestic Animals.' 



Nov. 2ist. Finished ' Pangenesis.' 



Dec. 2ist. Finished re-going over all chapters, and sent 

 them to printers. 



Dec. 22nd. Began concluding chapter of book." 



He was in London on two occasions for a week at a time 

 staying with his brother, and for a few days (May 29th- 

 June 2nd) in Surrey ; for the rest of the year he was at 

 Down. 



