CHAPTEE XIV 



1859-1860 



THE "Origin" appeared in November. As soon 

 as he had read it, Huxley wrote the following letter 

 to Darwin (already published in Life of Darwin, vol. 

 ii. p. 231) : 



JERMTN STREET, W., November 23, 1859. 



MY DEAR DARWIN I finished your book yesterday, 

 a lucky examination having furnished me with a few 

 hours of continuous leisure. 



Since I read Von Bar's essays, nine years ago, no work 

 on Natural History Science I have met with has made so 

 great an impression upon me, and I do most heartily 

 thank you for the great store of new views you have 

 given me. Nothing, I think, can be better than the tone 

 of the book ; it impresses those who know about the 

 subject. As for your doctrine, I am prepared to go to 

 the stake, if requisite, in support of Chapter IX 1 and 

 most parts of Chapters X, XI, XII, and Chapter XIII 

 contains much that is most admirable, but on one or two 



1 Chapter IX, The Imperfection of the Geological Record ; X, 

 The Geological Succession of Organic Beings ; XI-XII, Geographical 

 Distribution ; XIII, Classification, Morphology, Embryology, and 

 Rudimentary Organs. 



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