IIO THE 'ORIGIN OF SPECIES.' [1860 



on. But I seriously beg you not to write to me unless so 

 inclined ; for busy as you are, and seeing many people, the 

 case is very different between us. ... 



Have you seen 's abusive article on me ? ... It out- 

 does even the * North British ' and * Edinburgh ' in misap- 

 prehension and misrepresentation. I never knew anything 

 so unfair as in discussing cells of bees, his ignoring the case of 

 Melipona, which builds combs almost exactly intermediate 



between hive and humble bees. What has done that 



he feels so immeasurably superior to all us wretched natur- 

 alists, and to all political economists, including that great 

 philosopher Malthus ? This review, however, and Harvey's 

 letter have convinced me that I must be a very bad explainer. 

 Neither really understand what I mean by Natural Selec- 

 tion. I am inclined to give up the attempt as hopeless. 

 Those who do not understand, it seems, cannot be made to 

 understand. 



By the way, I think, we entirely agree, except perhaps that 

 I use too forcible language about selection. I entirely agree, 

 indeed would almost go further than you when you say that 

 climate (/. e. variability from all unknown causes) is " an active 

 handmaid, influencing its mistress most materially." Indeed, 

 I have never hinted that Natural Selection is " the efficient 

 cause to the exclusion of the other," /'. e. variability from 

 Climate, &c. The very term selection implies something, i. e. 

 variation or difference, to be selected. . . . 



How does your book progress (I mean your general sort 

 of book on plants), I hope to God you will be more success- 

 ful than I have been in making people understand your 

 meaning. I should begin to think myself wholly in the 

 wrong, and that I was an utter fool, but then I cannot yet 

 persuade myself, that Lyell, and you and Huxley, Carpenter, 

 Asa Gray, and Watson, &c., are all fools together. Well, 

 time will show, and nothing but time. Farewell . . . 



