Mr. Darwin and " Evolution," etc. 47 



important passages which are not in the February number of 

 Kosmos, while many passages in the original article are omitted 

 in the translation. 



Among the passages introduced are the last six pages of 

 the English article, which seem to condemn by anticipation 

 the position I have taken as regards Dr. Erasmus Darwin in 

 my book, " Evolution, Old and New," and which I believe I was 

 the first to take. The concluding, and therefore, perhaps, 

 most prominent sentence of the translation you have given 

 to the public stands thus : — 



" Erasmus Darwin's system was in itself a most significant 

 first step in the path of knowledge which his grandson has 

 opened up for us, but to wish to revive it at the present 

 day, as has actually been seriously attempted, shows a weak- 

 ness of thought and a mental anachronism which no man 

 can envy." 



The Kosmos which has been sent me from Germany 

 contains no such passage. 



As you have stated in your preface that my book, 

 "Evolution, Old and New," appeared subsequently to Dr. 

 Krause's article, and as no intimation is given that the article 

 has been altered and added to since its original appearance, 

 while the accuracy of the translation as though from the 

 February number of Kosmos is, as you expressly say, guaran- 

 teed by Mr. Dallas's "scientific reputation together with his 

 knowledge of German," your readers will naturally suppose 

 that all they read in the translation appeared in February 

 last, and therefore before " Evolution, Old and New," was 

 written, and therefore independently of, and necessarily 

 without reference to, that book 



I do not doubt that this was actually the case, but have 

 failed to obtain the edition which contains the passage above 

 referred to, and several others which appear in the translation. 



I have a personal interest in this matter, and venture, 

 therefore, to ask for the explanation, which I do not doubt 

 you will readily give me. — Yours faithfully, S. Butler. 



The following is Mr. Darwin's answer : — 



January 3, 1880. 



My Dear Sir, — Dr. Krause, soon after the appearance 

 of his article in Kosmos, told me that he intended to publish 

 it separately and to alter it considerably, and the altered MS. 

 was sent to Mr. Dallas for translation. This is so common 

 a practice that it never occurred to me to state that the 

 article had been modified ; but now I much regret that I 



