Darwin's "Nunc Dimlttis " loi 



as wholly unknown to the hiftorian of scientific ideas as it was 

 to biological specialists before 1858." 



But that suggestion is the central idea of the origin of 

 species, and contains the quintessence of Darwinism. 



Some weeks before the Origin was published, Darwan 

 wrote to Huxley, sending him a copy of the work, and 

 asking him for the names of eminent foreigners to 

 whom it should be sent. In the course of his letter he 

 wrote: " I shall be intensely curious to hear what ef- 

 fect the book produces on you," and it was clear that 

 he had no very confident expectation of a favourable 

 opinion. Huxley replied the day before the Origin 

 was published, saying that he had finished the volume, 

 and stating that it had completely convinced him of the 

 fact of evolution, and that he fully accepted natural 

 selection as a " true cause for the production of 

 species." Darwin, in a letter to Wallace, telling of 

 his doubts and- fears concerning the reception of his 

 book, had added the postscript : " I think I told you 

 l)efore that Hooker is a complete convert. If I can 

 convert Huxley, I shall be content." When he re- 

 ceived Huxley's letter he replied at once : 



"Like a good Catholic who has received extreme unction, I 

 can now sing Nunc Diinittis. I should have been more than 

 contented with one quarter of what you have said. Exactly 

 fifteen mouths ago, when I first put pen to paper for this 

 volume, I had awful misgivings, and thought perhaps I had 

 deluded myself, like so many have done ; and I then fixed in 

 my mind three judges, on whose decision I determined ment- 

 ally to abide. The judges were Lyell, Hooker, and yourself. 

 It was this which made me so excessively anxious for your ver- 

 dict. I am now contented, and can sing my Nunc Diinitlis.'" 



The effect of the new theor}' on Huxley's mind has 

 been expressed most fully and clearly by himself : 



