1862.] GRAY'S PAMPHLET. 



179 



1 8th. It is really almost a pleasure to receive stabs from so 

 smooth, polished, and sharp a dagger as your pen. I hearti- 

 ly wish I could sympathise more fully with you, instead of 

 merely hating the South. We cannot enter into your feel- 

 ings ; if Scotland were to rebel, I presume we should be very 

 wrath, but I do not think we should care a penny what other 

 nations thought. The millennium must come before nations 

 love each other ; but try and do not hate me. Think of me, 

 if you will as a poor blinded fool. I fear the dreadful state 

 of affairs must dull your interest in Science 



I believe that your pamphlet has done my book great good ; 

 and I thank you from my heart for myself ; and believing 

 that the views are in large part true, I must think that you 

 have done natural science a good turn. Natural Selection 

 seems to be making a little progress in England and on 

 the Continent ; a new German edition is called for, and a 

 French* one has just appeared. One of the best men, 

 though at present unknown, who has taken up these views, 

 is Mr. Bates ; pray read his ' Travels in Amazonia/ when they 

 appear; they will be very good, judging from MS. of the first 

 two chapters. 



.... Again I say, do not hate me. 



Ever yours most truly, 



C. DARWIN. 



* In June, 1862, my father wrote to Dr. Gray : " I received, 2 or 3 

 days ago, a French translation of the ' Origin,' by a Madlle. Royer, who 

 must be one of the cleverest and oddest women in Europe : is an ardent 

 Deist, and hates Christianity, and declares that natural selection and the 

 struggle for life will explain all morality, nature of man, politics, &c. &c. ! 

 She makes some very curious and good hits, and says she shall publish a 

 book on these subjects." Madlle. Royer added foot-notes to her transla- 

 tion, and in many places where the author expresses great doubt, she ex- 

 plains the difficulty, or points out that no real difficulty exists. 



