1874.1 MR. MIVART. 363 



expresses ' reprobation of Mr. Darwin's views ' ; and asserts 

 that though he (Mr. Darwin) has been obliged, virtually, to 

 give up his theory, it is still maintained by Darwinians with 

 ' unscrupulous audacity/ and the actual repudiation of it 

 concealed by the * conspiracy of silence.' " Mr. Wallace 

 goes on to show that these charges are without foundation, 

 and points out that, " If there is one thing more than another 

 for which Mr. Darwin is pre-eminent among modern literary 

 and scientific men, it is for his perfect literary honesty, his 

 self-abnegation in confessing himself wrong, and the eager 

 haste with which he proclaims and even magnifies small errors 

 in his works, for the most part discovered by himself." 



The following extract from a letter to Mr. Wallace (June 

 iyth) refers to Mr. M wart's statement ('Lessons from Na- 

 ture,' p. 144) that Mr. Darwin at first studiously disguised his 

 views as to the " bestiality of man " : 



" I have only just heard of and procured your two articles 

 in the Academy. I thank you most cordially for your gener- 

 ous defence of me against Mr. Mivart. In the ' Origin ' I did 

 not discuss the derivation of any one species ; but that I 

 might not be accused of concealing my opinion, I went out 

 of my way, and inserted a sentence which seemed to me 

 (and still so seems) to disclose plainly my belief. This was 

 quoted in my ' Descent of Man.' Therefore it is very unjust, 

 .... of Mr. Mivart to accuse me of base fraudulent con- 

 cealment." 



The letter which here follows is of interest in connection 

 with the discussion, in the * Descent of Man,' on the origin of 

 the musical sense in man :] 



C. Darwin to E. Gurney* 



Down, July 8, 1876. 



MY DEAR MR. GURNEY, I have read your article f with 

 much interest, except the latter part, which soared above my 



* Author of The Power of Sound.' 



\ " Some disputed Points in Music." 'Fortnightly Review,' July, 1876. 



