152 * DESCENT OF MAN ' EXPRESSION. [1872. 



rudiments of old customs. . . . You will perhaps be surprised 

 at my writing at so late a period, but I have had the book 

 read aloud to me, and from much ill-health of late, could only 

 stand occasional short reads. The undertaking must have 

 cost you gigantic labour. Nevertheless, I earnestly hope that 

 you may be induced to treat morals in the same enlarged yet 

 careful manner, as you have animism. I fancy from the last 

 chapter that you have thought of this. No man could do the 

 work so well as you, and the subject assuredly is a most 

 important and interesting one. You must now possess refer- 

 ences which would guide you to a sound estimation of the 

 morals of savages ; and how writers like Wallace, Lubbock, 

 &c. &c., do differ on this head. Forgive me for troubling 

 you, and believe me, with much respect, 



Yours very sincerely, 



CH. DARWIN. 



1872. 



[At the beginning of the year the sixth edition of the 

 'Origin,' which had been begun in June 1871, was nearly 

 completed. The last sheet was revised on January 10, 1872, 

 and the book was published in the course of the month. 

 This volume differs from the previous ones in appearance 

 and size it consists of 458 pp. instead of 596 pp., and is a 

 few ounces lighter ; it is printed on bad paper, in small type, 

 and with the lines unpleasantly close together. It had, how- 

 ever, one advantage over the previous editions, namely that 

 it was issued at a lower price. It is to be regretted that this 

 the final edition of the ' Origin ' should have appeared in 

 so unattractive a form ; a form which has doubtless kept many 

 readers from the book. 



The discussion suggested by the ' Genesis of Species ' was 

 perhaps the most important addition to the book. The ob- 

 jection that incipient structures cannot be of use, was dealt 

 with in some detail, because it seemed to the author that this 



