The Apostle of Evolution. 173 



does, not only extensive information, but power of inde- 

 pendent thought.* 



I was pleased to find that you agree with me in think- 

 ing it important to disabuse the American public respecting 

 the imputation of Comtism. I had at first thought of em- 

 bodying in my letter to the New Englander a general dis- 

 claimer on behalf of the scientific thinkers of England, 

 but I concluded that, as the matter was essentially a per- 

 sonal one, the editor might object to my entering on the 

 more general question. Now, however, that you suggest 

 the addition of some such remarks to my letters, with a 

 view to general distribution, I willingly make them. 



I embody them in a paragraph on the next page ; which 

 you may quote as an extract from one of my letters and 

 append to the republished letters to the New Englander. 

 I inclose a copy of the letter to the New Englander, lest 

 it should not have been published. 



My father, who is with me, joins me in "kind remem- 

 brance to Mrs. Youmans and yourself. 



Very sincerely yours, HERBERT SPENCER. 



There appears to have got abroad in the United States 

 a very erroneous impression respecting the influence of 

 Comte's writings in England. I suppose that the cur- 

 rency obtained by the words " positivism " and " positivist " 

 is to blame for this. Comte having designated by the 

 term " positive philosophy " all that body of definitely es- 

 tablished knowledge which men of science have been 

 gradually organizing into a coherent body of doctrine, 

 and having habitually placed this in opposition to the in- 



* This paragraph, quoted by Youmans in his next letter to me, gave 

 me the courage which had hitherto been lacking to write to Mr. Spencer. 

 I did so in February, 1864, and received a very prompt and cordial reply. 

 It was the beginning of my personal acquaintance and friendship with Mr. 

 Spencer. 



