432 THE UNFINISHED BOOK. [1856. 



"most mischievous," "absurd," "unsound." Theology is at 

 the bottom of some of this. I told him he was like Calvin 

 burning a heretic. It is a very valuable and clever book in 

 my opinion. He has evidently read very little out of his own 

 line. I urged him to read the New Zealand essay. His 

 Geology also is rather eocene, as I told him. In fact I wrote 

 most frankly ; I fear too frankly ; he says he is sure that ultra- 

 honesty is my characteristic : I do not know whether he meant 

 it as a sneer ; I hope not. Talking of eocene geology, I got 

 so wrath about the Atlantic continent, more especially from 

 a note from Woodward (who has published a capital book on 

 shells), who does not seem to doubt that every island in the 

 Pacific and Atlantic are the remains of continents, submerged 

 within period of existing species, that I fairly exploded, and 

 wrote to Lyell to protest, and summed up all the continents 

 created of late years by Forbes (the head sinner !) yourself, 

 Wollaston, and Woodward, and a pretty nice little extension 

 of land they make altogether ! I am fairly rabid on the 

 question and therefore, if not wrong already, am pretty sure 

 to become so ... 



I have enjoyed your note much. Adios, 



C. DARWIN. 



P. S. [June] 1 8th. Lyell has written me a capital letter 

 on your side, which ought to upset me entirely, but I cannot 

 say it does quite. 



Though I must try and cease being rabid and try to feel 

 humble, and allow you all to make continents, as easily as a 

 cook does pancakes. 



C. Darwin to C. Lyell. 



Down, June 25th [1856]. 



MY DEAR LYELL, I will have the following tremendous 

 letter copied to make the reading easier, and as I want to 

 keep a copy. 



As you say you would like to hear my reasons for being 



