32 FIFTY YEARS OF DARWINISM 



Down, 

 Beckenham, Kent. 



Oct. 11, 1871. 

 MY DEAR SIR 



I am much obliged for your kind note and invitation. 

 I sh d like exceedingly to accept it, but it is impossible. 

 I have been for some months worse than usual, and can 

 withstand no exertion or excitement of any kind, and in 

 consequence have not been able to see anyone or go any- 

 where. As long as I remain quite quiet, I can do some 

 work, and I am now preparing a new and cheap Edit n of the 

 Origin in which I shall answer Mr. Mivart's chief objections. 

 Huxley will bring out a splendid review on d in the 

 Contemporary R., on November 1st. 



I am pleased that you like Ch. Wright's article. It seemed 

 to me very clever for a man who is not a naturalist. He is 

 highly esteemed in the U. States as a Mathematician and 

 sound reasoner. 



I wish I could join your party. 

 My dear Sir 



Yours very sincerely 



CH. DARWIN.' 



Chauncey Wright speaks of presenting, in his 

 review of Mivart, considerations ' in defence and 

 illustration of the theory of Natural Selection. 

 My special purpose,' he continues, 'has been to 

 contribute to the theory by placing it in its proper 

 relations to philosophical inquiries in general.' 2 



This able critic in America, and Henry Fawcett 

 in England, represent a class of thinkers who 

 have taken and still take a very important part 

 in upholding the theory of Natural Selection. It 



1 The letter is addressed to J. Jenner Weir, Esq., 6 Haddo 

 Villas, Blackheath, London, S.E. 



2 In a letter to Darwin, June 21, 1871. Life and Letters, iii. 

 143, 144. 



