74 THE 'ORIGIN OF SPECIES/ [1860. 



book has been received in Germany, and I most sincerely 

 hope M. Schweitzerbart will not lose money by the publica- 

 tion. Most of the reviews have been bitterly opposed to me 

 in England, yet I have made some converts, and several 

 naturalists who would not believe in a word of it, are now 

 coming slightly round, and admit that natural selection may 

 have done something. This gives me hope that more will 

 ultimately come round to a certain extent to my views. 



I shall ever consider myself deeply indebted to you for the 

 immense service and honour which you have conferred on me 

 in making the excellent translation of my book. Pray believe 

 me, with most sincere respect, 



Dear Sir, yours gratefully, 



CHARLES DARWIN. 



C Darwin to C. Lyell. 



Down [February I2th, 1860]. 



... I think it was a great pity that Huxley wasted so 

 much time in the lecture on the preliminary remarks ; . . . 

 but his lecture seemed to me very fine and very bold. I have 

 remonstrated (and he agrees) against the impression that he 

 would leave, that sterility was a universal and infallible cri- 

 terion of species. 



You will, I am sure, make a grand discussion on man. I 

 am so glad to hear that you and Lady Lyell will come here. 

 Pray fix your own time ; and if it did not suit us we would 

 say so. We could then discuss man well. . . . 



How much I owe to you and Hooker ! I do not suppose 

 I should hardly ever have published had it not been for you. 



[The lecture referred to in the last letter was given at the 

 Royal Institution, February 10, 1860. The following letter 

 was written in reply to Mr. Huxley's request for information 

 about breeding, hybridisation, &c. It is of interest as giving 

 a vivid retrospect of the writer's experience on the subject.] 



