1863.] 'ANTIQUITY OF MAN.' ! 95 



the brain, I felt a conviction that a classification thus founded 

 on a single character would break down, and it seemed to 

 me a great error not to separate more completely the Mar- 

 supialia. . . . 



What an accursed evil it is that there should be all this 

 quarreling within, what ought to be, the peaceful realms of 

 science. 



I will go to my own present subject of inheritance and 

 forget it all for a time. Farewell, my dear old friend, 



C. DARWIN. 



7, Danvin to Asa Gray. 



Down, Feb. 23 [1863]. 



... If you have time to read you will be interested by 

 parts of Lyell's book on man ; but I fear that the best part, 

 about the Glacial period, may be too geological for any one 

 except a regular geologist. He quotes you at the end with 

 gusto. By the way, he told me the other day how pleased 

 some had been by hearing that they could purchase your 

 pamphlet. The Parthenon also speaks of it as the ablest 

 contribution to the literature of the subject. It delights me 

 when I see your work appreciated. 



The Lyells come here this day week, and I shall grumble 

 at his excessive caution. . . . The public may well say, if 

 such a man dare not or will not speak out his mind, how can 

 we who are ignorant form even a guess on the subject ? Lyell 

 was pleased when I told him lately that you thought that 

 language might be used as an excellent illustration of deriva- 

 tion of species ; you will see that he has an admirable chapter 

 on this. .... 



I read Cairns's excellent Lecture,* which shows so well 

 how your quarrel arose from Slavery. It made me for a time 

 wish honestly for the North ; but I could never help, though I 

 tried, all the time thinking how we should be bullied and 



* Prof. J. E. Cairns, ' The Slave Power, &c. : an attempt to explain the 

 real issues involved in the American contest.' 1862. 



