28 PUBLICATION OF THE 'ORIGIN OF SPECIES.' [1859. 



paper for this volume, I had awful misgivings ; and thought 

 perhaps I had deluded myself, like so many have done, and 

 I then fixed in my mind three judges, on whose decision I 

 determined mentally to abide. The judges were Lyell, 

 Hooker, and yourself. It was this which made me so exces- 

 sively anxious for your verdict. I am now contented, and 

 can sing my nunc dimittis. What a joke it would be if I 

 pat you on the back when you attack some immovable crea- 

 tionist ! You have most cleverly hit on one point, which has 

 greatly troubled me ; if, as I must think, external conditions 

 produce little direct effect, what the devil determines each 

 particular variation ? What makes a tuft of feathers come 

 on a cock's head, or moss on a moss-rose ? I shall much like 

 to talk over this with you. . . . 



My dear Huxley, I thank you cordially for your letter. 



Yours very sincerely, 



C. Darwin. 



P. S. — Hereafter I shall be particularly curious to hear 

 what you think of my explanation of Embryological similar- 

 ity. On classification I fear we shall split. Did you per- 

 ceive the argumentum ad hominem Huxley about kangaroo 

 and bear ? 



Erasmus Darwin to C. Dar 



win. 



November 23rd [1859]. 

 Dear Charles, — I am so much weaker in the head, that 

 I hardly know if I can write, but at all events I will jot 

 down a few things that the Dr.* has said. He has not read 

 much above half, so as he says he can give no definite con- 

 clusion, and it is my private belief he wishes to remain in 

 that state. . . . He is evidently in a dreadful state of inde- 

 cision, and keeps stating that he is not tied down to either 

 view, and that he has always left an escape by the way he 

 has spoken of varieties. I happened to speak of the eye be- 



* Dr., afterwards Sir Henry Holland. 



