FIFTY YEARS OF DARWINISM 33 



John Murray in 1871. A copy presented by 

 Darwin to the late J. Jenner Weir and now in 

 the Library of the Hope Department of Oxford 

 University Museum contains an interesting holo- 

 graph letter referring to the pamphlet and bear- 

 ing upon the controversy that followed upon the 

 appearance of Mivart's book. This letter is, by 

 kind permission of the Darwin family, now made 

 public: — 



" Down, 

 " Beckenham, Kent. 

 " Oct. 11, 1871. 

 " My dear Sir 



" I am much obliged for your kind note & invitation. 

 I sh*^ like exceedingly to accept it, but it is impossible. 

 I have been for some months worse than usual, & can 

 withstand no exertion or excitement of any kind, & in 

 consequence have not been able to see anyone or go 

 anywhere. — ^As long as I remain quite quiet, I can do 

 some work, & I am now preparing a new and cheap 

 Edit" of the Origin in which I shall answer Mr. 

 Mivart's chief objections. Huxley wiU bring out a 

 splendid review on d° in the Contemporary R., on 

 November 1st. 



" I am pleased that you like Ch. Wright's article. It 

 seemed to me very clever for a man who is not a 

 naturalist. He is highly esteemed in the U. States 

 as a Mathematician & sound reasoner. 



" I wish I could join your party. — 

 " My dear Sir 



" Yours very sincerely 



" Ch. Darwin." ^ 



Chauncey Wright speaks of presenting, in his 

 review of Mivart, considerations " in defense and 



* The letter is addressed to J. Jenner Weir, Esq., 6 Haddo 

 Villas, Blackheath, London, S. £. 



