1849-] LORD STANHOPE. 377 



allowed here), and greatly I have been interested by it. It 

 makes me long to be a Yankee. E. desires me to say that 

 she quite " gloated " over the truth of your remarks on reli- 

 gious progress .... I delight to think how you will disgust 

 some of the bigots and educational dons. As yet there has 

 not been much Geology or Natural History, for which I hope 

 you feel a little ashamed. Your remarks on all social subjects 

 strike me as worthy of the author of the ' Principles.' And 

 yet (I know it is prejudice and pride) if I had written the 

 Principles, I never would have written any travels ; but I 

 believe I am more jealous about the honour and glory of the 

 Principles than you are yourself. . . . 



C. Darwin to C. Lyell. 



September I4th, 1849. 



... I go on with my aqueous processes, and very steadily but 

 slowly gain health and strength. Against all rules, I dined at 

 Chevening with Lord Mahon, who did me the great honour 

 of calling on me, and how he heard of me I can't guess. I 

 was charmed with Lady Mahon, and any one might have been 

 proud at the pieces of agreeableness which came from her 

 beautiful lips with respect to you. I like old Lord Stanhope 

 very much ; though he abused Geology and Zoology heartily. 

 " To suppose that the Omnipotent God made a world, found it 

 a failure, and broke it up, and then made it again, and again 

 broke it up, as the Geologists say, is all fiddle faddle." 

 Describing Species of birds and shells, &c., is all fiddle 

 faddle. . . . 



I am heartily glad we shall meet at Birmingham, as I trust 

 we shall, if my health will but keep up. I work now every 

 day at the Cirripedia for 2\ hours, and so get on a little, but 

 very slowly. I sometimes, after being a whole week employed 

 and having described perhaps only two species, agree men- 

 tally with Lord Stanhope, that it is all fiddle faddle ; however, 



