1871.] MR. HUXLEY'S REVIEW. 329 



common observation and sense to trust to, I did not know 

 what to say in my second edition of my ' Descent.' Now a 

 footnote and reference to you will do the work. . . . For me, 

 this is one of the most important parts of the review. But for 

 pleasure, I have been particularly glad that my few words * 

 on the distinction, if it can be so called, between Mivart's two 

 forms of morality, caught your attention. I am so pleased 

 that you take the same view, and give authorities for it ; but I 

 searched Mill in vain on this head. How well you argue the 

 whole case. I am mounting climax on climax ; for after all 

 there is nothing, I think, better in your whole review than 

 your arguments v. Wallace on the intellect of savages. I must 

 tell you what Hooker said to me a few years ago. " When I 

 read Huxley, I feel quite infantile in intellect." By Jove I 

 have felt the truth of this throughout your review. What a 

 man you are. There are scores of splendid passages, and 

 vivid flashes of wit. I have been a good deal more than 

 merely pleased by the concluding part of your review ; and 

 all the more, as I own I felt mortified by the accusation of 

 bigotry, arrogance, &c., in the ' Quarterly Review.' But I 

 assure you, he may write his worst, and he will never mortify 

 me again, 



My dear Huxley, yours gratefully, 



CHARLES DARWIN. 



C. Darwin to F. Mailer. 



Haredene, Albury, August 2 [1871], 



MY DEAR SIR, Your last letter has interested me greatly ; 

 it is wonderfully rich in facts and original thoughts. First, 

 let me say that I have been much pleased by what you say 

 about my book. It has had a very large sale ; but I have 

 been much abused for it, especially for the chapter on trie 

 moral sense ; and most of my reviewers consider the book as 

 a poor affair. God knows what its merits may really be ; all 



* ' Descent of Man,' vol. i. p. 87. A discussion on the question whether 

 an act done impulsively or instinctively can be called moral. 



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