58 CHARLES DARWIN. 



And on August 5th of the same year Darwin replied 

 to Hooker, who 4iad apparently argued that the origin 

 of species by direct action of climate, etc., would mean 

 independent and multiple specific centres : 



" I see from your remarks that you do not understand my 

 notions (whether or no worth anything) about modification ; 

 I attribute very little to the direct action of climate, etc. I 

 suppose, in regard to specific centres, we are at cross purposes ; 

 I should call the kitchen garden in which the red cabbage 

 was produced, or the farm in which Bakewell made the 

 Shorthorn cattle, the specific centre of these species ! And 

 surely this is centralisation enough ! " 



As I have argued above, Darwin was all the time 

 affording the strongest support to the theory of 

 specific centres : support which was entirely wanting 

 in the theory of separate creation, in which the origin 

 of each species is wrapped in mystery, so that we can 

 form no opinion as to whether it took place at one 

 centre or at many. 



At this time, when the views set forth in the 

 " Origin " were gaining shape and expression, we 

 cannot estimate too highly the value of the corre- 

 spondence with Hooker. In after years, when the 

 "Origin" had to stand the fire of adverse criticism, 

 and at first of very general disapproval, it was of 

 inestimable advantage that every idea contained in 

 it should have been minutely discussed beforehand 

 with one who was more critical and more learned 

 than the greatest of those who afterwards objected. 

 Darwin tells us in his " Autobiography " : 



