432 CORRESPONDENCE. [1857, 



from the one to tlie other is the question. If we may 

 do so even as far as you do, might not Agassiz (at least 

 plausibly) say, that as the species Iron was created 

 in a vast number of individuals over the whole earth, 

 so the presumption is that any given species of plants 

 or animals was originated in as many individuals 

 as there are now, and over as wide an area, the hu- 

 man species under as great diversities as it now has 

 (barring historical intermixture) ? — so reducing the 

 question between you to insignificance, because then 

 the question whether men are of one or of several spe- 

 cies would no longer be a question of fact, or of much 

 consequence. 



You can answer him from another starting-point, 

 no doubt ; but he may stiU insist that it is a legitimate 

 carrying out of your own principle. . . . 



The tendency of my mind is opposed to this sort of 

 view; but you may be sure that before long there 

 must be one more resurrection of the development 

 theory in a new form, obviating many of the arguments 

 against it, and presenting a more respectable and 

 more formidable appearance than it ever has be- 

 fore. . . . 



I wanted to say something on the last two pages, 

 but as I have nothing in particular to except to, and 

 much to approve, and as it is late bedtime, I spare 

 you further comments. 



I set out to find flaws, as likely to be more sug- 

 gestive and therefore far more useful to you than any 

 amount of praise, with which I could fill page after 

 page. 



