i86;.] ENCOURAGEMENT. 255 



C. Darwin to C. LyelL 



Down, August 22 [1867]. 



MY DEAR LYELL, I thank you cordially for your last two 

 letters. The former one did me real good, for I had got so 

 wearied with the subject that I could hardly bear to correct 

 the proofs,* and you gave me fresh heart. I remember 

 thinking that when you came to the Pigeon chapter you 

 would pass it over as quite unreadable. Your last letter has 

 interested me in very many ways, and I have been glad to 

 hear about those horrid unbelieving Frenchmen. I have been 

 particularly pleased that you have noticed Pangenesis. I do 

 not know whether you ever had the feeling of having thought 

 so much over a subject that you had lost all power of judging 

 it. This is my case with Pangenesis (which is 26 or 27 years 

 old), but I am inclined to think that if it be admitted as a 

 probable hypothesis it will be a somewhat important step in 

 Biology. 



I cannot help still regretting that you have ever looked at 

 the slips, for I hope to improve the whole a good deal. It is 

 surprising to me, and delightful, that you should care in the 

 least about the plants. Altogether you have given me one of 

 the best cordials I ever had in my life, and I heartily thank 

 you. I despatched this morning the French edition.f The 

 introduction was a complete surprise to me, and I dare say 

 has injured the book in France ; nevertheless ... it shows, 

 I think, that the woman is uncommonly clever. Once again 

 many thanks for the renewed courage with which I shall at- 

 tack the horrid proof-sheets. 



Yours affectionately, 



CHARLES DARWIN. 



* The proofs of ' Animals and Plants,' which Lyell was then reading. 



f Of the ' Origin.' It appears that my father was sending a copy of 

 the French edition to Sir Charles. The introduction was by Mdlle, 

 Royer, who translated the book. 



