244 ORIGIN OP SPECIES. [Ch. XIII. 



admire these discussions, I think, almost more than your 

 article in Silliman's Journal. Every single word seems 

 weighed carefully, and tells like a 32-pound shot. It makes 

 me much wish (but I know that you have not time) that you 

 could write more in detail, and give, for instance, the facts on 

 the variability of the American wild fruits. The Athenxum 

 has the largest circulation, and I have sent my copy to the 

 editor with a request that he would republish the first dis- 

 cussion ; I much fear he will not, as he reviewed the subject in 

 so hostile a spirit. ... I shall be curious [to see], and will 

 order the August number, as soon as I know that it contains 

 your review of reviews. My conclusion is that you have made 

 a mistake in being a botanist, you ought to have been a lawyer. 



The following passages from a letter to Huxley (Dec. 2nd, 

 1860) may serve to show what was my father's view of the 

 position of the subject, after a year's experience of reviewers, 

 critics and converts : — 



"I have got fairly sick of hostile reviews. Nevertheless, 

 they have been of use in showing me when to expatiate a little 

 and to introduce a few new discussions. 



" I entirely agree with you, that the difficulties on my notions 

 are terrific, yet having seen what all the Reviews have said 

 against me, I have far more confidence in the general truth of 

 the doctrine than I formerly had. Another thing gives me 

 confidence, viz. that some who went half an inch with me now 

 go further, and some who were bitterly opposed are now less 

 bitterly opposed. ... I can pretty plainly see that, if my 

 view is ever to be generally adopted, it will be by young men 

 growing up and replacing the old workers, and then young ones 

 finding that they can group facts and search out new lines of 

 investigation better on the notion of descent, than on that of 

 creation." 



