The Apostle of Evolution. 179 



the South was our great customer — this system had well- 

 nigh paralyzed the mind of the nation. But the war has 

 broken the spell. I have never before known such boldness 

 of inquiry and demand for first principles. If the slave sys- 

 tem is broken up in this convulsion, the mind of the country 

 will be far freer than ever before; if not, I see no escape 

 from utter mental re-enslavement. If the slave power has 

 the vitality to maintain itself through the shocks of this 

 war and achieve its aim, it will be regnant in the future; it 

 will be dominant over the continent, and make fight with 

 the course of civilization, Heaven only knows how long! 

 But be that as it may, now is the time for action, and I 

 have striven my utmost to make it available. I shall 

 strongly hope that events will so shape themselves that I 

 may be in London next winter. 



29 Bloomsbury Square, W. C, May 18, 1864. 



My dear Youmans : Accept my thanks both for the 

 Progress and for the copy of your own Chemistry, which 

 you have been so kind as to send me. I have as yet had 

 little time to dip into it, but I am struck with the immense 

 amount of matter you have contrived to put into a small 

 space, and also with the very great clearness of statement. 

 It seems to me admirably adapted to serve its purpose as a 

 class-book. I expect to find it useful for ready reference; 

 and have, indeed, already done so on one point I had for- 

 gotten. 



As to the Progress, it looks very well, and is evidently 

 more fitted to be popular than it was in its original form. 

 You must have bestowed an immensity of trouble upon it, 

 in putting the headings to the pages and dividing the para- 

 graphs, as well as in correcting the press. Indeed, in this, 

 as all along, you amaze me by the amount of labour you 

 expend in furthering my undertaking. I cannot but feel 

 somewhat oppressed by the consciousness of it, since the 

 disturbance uf he?lth which you describe can hardly fail to 



