1 847.] COAL. 359 



Tell me that an upright fern in situ occurs with Sigillaria 

 and Stigmaria, or that the affinities of Calamites and Lepido- 

 dendron (supposing that they are found in situ with Si- 

 gillaria) are so clear, that they could not have been marine, 

 like, but in a greater degree, than the mangrove and sea- 

 wrack, and I will humbly apologise to you and all Botanists 

 for having let my mind run riot on a subject on which 

 assuredly I know nothing. But till I hear this, I shall keep 

 privately to my own opinion with the same pertinacity and, 

 as you will think, with the same philosophical spirit with 

 which Koenig maintains that Cheirotherium-footsteps are fuci. 



Whether this letter will sink me still lower in your opinion, 

 or put me a little right, I know not, but hope the latter. 

 Anyhow, I have revenged myself with boring you with a very 

 long epistle. Farewell, and be forgiving. Ever yours, 



C. DARWIN. 



P.S. When will you return to Kew? I have forgotten one 

 main object of my letter, to thank you much for your offer of 

 the ' Hort. Journal,' but I have ordered the two numbers. 



[The two following extracts [1847] give the continuation 

 and conclusion of the coal battle. 



"By the way, as submarine coal made you so wrath, I 

 thought I would experimentise on Falconer and Bunbury* 

 together, and it made [them] even more savage ; ' such infernal 

 nonsense ought to be thrashed out of me.' Bunbury was 

 more polite and contemptuous. So I now know how to stir 

 up and show off any Botanist. I wonder whether Zoologists 

 and Geologists have got their tender points ; I wish I could 

 find out." 



" I cannot resist thanking you for your most kind note. 

 Pray do not think that I was annoyed by your letter : I per- 

 ceived that you had been thinking with animation, and ac- 

 cordingly expressed yourself strongly, and so I understood it. 

 * The late Sir C. Bunbury, well known as a palaeobotanist. 



