266 'VARIATION UNDER DOMESTICATION/ [1868. 



I am perfectly content. All cases of inheritance and re- 

 version and development now appear to me under a new 

 light. . . . 



[An extract from a letter to Fritz Miiller, though of later 

 date (June), may be given here : 



" Your letter of April 22 has much interested me. I am 

 delighted that you approve of my book, for I value your 

 opinion more than that of almost any one. I have yet hopes 

 that you will think well of Pangenesis. I feel sure that our 

 minds are somewhat alike, and I find it a great relief to have 

 some definite, though hypothetical view, when I reflect on the 

 wonderful transformations of animals, the re-growth of 

 parts, and especially the direct action of pollen on the 

 mother-form, &c. It often appears to me almost certain that 

 the characters of the parents are " photographed " on 'the 

 child, only by means of material atoms derived from each 

 cell in both parents, and developed in the child."] 



C. Darwin to Asa Gray. 



Down, May 8 [1868]. 



MY DEAR GRAY, I have been a most ungrateful and un- 

 gracious man not to have written to you an immense time ago 

 to thank you heartily for the Nation, and for all your most 

 kind aid in regard to the American edition [of ( Animals and 

 Plants']. But I have been of late overwhelmed with letters, 

 which I was forced to answer, and so put off writing to you. 

 This morning I received the American edition (which looks 

 capital), with your nice preface, for which hearty thanks. I 

 hope to heaven that the book will succeed well enough to 

 prevent you repenting of your aid. This arrival has put the 

 finishing stroke to my conscience, which will endure its 

 wrongs no longer. 



. . . Your article in the Nation [Mar. 19] seems to me very 

 good, and you give an excellent idea of Pangenesis an infant 

 cherished by few as yet, except his tender parent, but which 

 will live a long life. There is parental presumption for you ! 



