2/0 'VARIATION UNDER DOMESTICATION.' [1868. 



belief will I suppose, at present, lower you in the estimation 

 of your countrymen ; but judging from the rapid spread in 

 all parts of Europe, excepting France, of the belief in the 

 common descent of allied species, I must think that this 

 belief will before long become universal. How strange it is 

 that the country which gave birth to Buffon, the elder 

 Geofftoy, and especially to Lamarck, should now cling so 

 pertinaciously to the belief that species are immutable cre- 

 ations. 



My work on Variation, &c., under domestication, will ap- 

 pear in a French translation in a few months' time, and I will 

 do myself the pleasure and honour of directing the publisher 

 to send a copy to you to the same address as this letter. 

 With sincere respect, I remain, dear sir, 

 Yours very faithfully, 



CHARLES DARWIN. 



[The next letter is of especial interest, as showing how 

 high a value my father placed on the support of the younger 

 German naturalists :] 



C. Darwin to W. Preyer* 



March 31, 1868. 



.... I am delighted to hear that you uphold the doctrine 

 of the Modification of Species, and defend my views. The 

 support which I reteive from Germany is my chief ground 

 for hoping that our views will ultimately prevail. To the 

 present day I am continually abused or treated with con- 

 tempt by writers of my own country ; but the younger natural- 

 ists are almost all on my side, and sooner or later the public 

 must follow those who make the subject their special study. 

 The abuse and contempt of ignorant writers hurts me very 

 little. . . . 



* Now Professor of Physiology at Jena. 



