464. LETTERS TO DARWIN AND OTHERS. (1861, 
What you say of “ Essays and Reviews ” seems to 
me most sensible and well considered ; the best thing 
I have read about the book, viz., that, “ with many 
good and true things in it, it is a reckless book,” and 
that some of the writers had not taken the trouble to 
clear up their own thoughts and to form orderly and 
consistent notions before publishing upon such deli- 
cate topics. 
I have not yet read the book; have only looked 
it over, and read some of the criticisms. When 
have a few days’ leisure in the country, in July, I 
mean to read it carefully. After the flurry is over, 
I hope the book will receive the proper kind of han- 
dling in England, by the proper men. I wish you 
would think it in your way to write an essay upon 
some of the points at issue, upon which inconsiderate 
views are likely to be taken upon either side. 
I confess to a strong dislike of Baden Powell’s 
writings. He seems to have had a coarse, material- 
istic, non-religious mind; at least, he is not the sort 
of man I should select to illustrate the delicate rela- 
tions between religion and science. 
I am gratified, also, by your apprehending the spirit 
and object of my essay! on Darwin so much better 
than many who write to me about it. All it pretends 
to is to warn the reckless and inconsiderate to state 
the case as it is; to protest against the folly of those 
who would, it would seem, go on to fire away the very 
ramparts of the citadel, in the defense of needless 
outposts ; and, as you justly remark, to clear the way 
for a fair discussion of the new theory on its merits 
and evidence. We must use the theory a while in 
botany and in zodlogy, and see how it will work; in 
1 Reviews of Darwin’s Origin of Species — Darwiniana. 
