276 THE SPBEAD OF EVOLUTION. [Ch. XTV. 



Mivart that in two cases lie quotes only the commencement of 

 sentences by me, and thus modifies my meaning ; but I never 

 supposed he would have omitted words. There are other cases 

 of what I consider unfair treatment." 



My father continues, with his usual charity and modera- 

 tion : — 



"I conclude with sorrow that though he means to be 

 honourable, he is so bigoted that he cannot act fairly." 



In July 1871, my father wrote to Mr. Wallace : — 



" I feel very doubtful how far I shall succeed in answering 

 Mivart, v it is so difficult to answer objections to doubtful 

 points, and make the discussion readable. I shall make only 

 a selection. The worst of it is, that I cannot possibly hunt 

 through all my references for isolated points, it would take me 

 three weeks of intolerably hard work. I wish I had your 

 power of arguing clearly. At present I feel sick of everything, 

 and if I could occupy my time and forget my daily discomforts, 

 or rather miseries, I would never publish another word. But 

 I shall cheer up, I dare say, soon, having only just got over a 

 bad attack. Farewell; God knows why I bother you about 

 myself. I can say nothing more about missing-links than 

 what I have said. I should rely much on pre-silurian times ; 

 but then comes Sir W. Thomson like an odious spectre.* 

 Farewell. 



"... There is a most cutting review of me in the [July] 

 Quarterly ; I have only read a few pages. The skill and style 

 make me think of Mivart. I shall soon be viewed as the most 

 despicable of men. This Quarterly "Review tempts me to 

 republish Ch. Wright,f even if not read by any one, just to 

 show some one will say a word against Mivart, and that his 

 (i.e. Mivart's) remarks ought not to be swallowed without 

 some reflection. . . . God knows whether my strength and 

 spirit will last out to write a chapter versus Mivart and others ; 

 I do so hate controversy and feel I shall do it so badly." 



The Quarterly review was the subject of an article by Mr. 

 Huxley in the November number of the Contemporary Review. 

 Here, also, are discussed Mr. Wallace's Contribution to the 

 Theory of Natural Selection, and the second edition of Mr. 



Darwin's authority." It should be mentioned that the passage from 

 which words are omitted is not given within inverted commas by 

 Mr. Mivart. 



* My father, as an Evolutionist, felt that he required more time than 

 Sir W. Thomson's estimate of the age of the world allows. 



t Chauncey Wright's review was published as a pamphlet in the autumn 

 of 1871. 



