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



certainly prove exactly the same as mine. But I cannot find 

 one word like the struggle for existence and natural selection. 

 On the contrary, he brings in his principle (p. 103) of final- 

 ity (which I do not understand), which, he says, with some 

 authors is fatality, with others providence, and which adapts 

 the forms of every being, and harmonises them all through- 

 out nature. 



He assumes like old geologists (who assumed that the 

 forces of nature were formerly greater), that species were at 

 first more plastic. His simile of tree and classification is 

 like mine (and others), but he cannot, I think, have reflected 

 much on the subject, otherwise he would see that genealogy 

 by itself does not give classification ; I declare I cannot see a 

 much closer approach to Wallace and me in Naudin than in 

 Lamarck — we all agree in modification and descent. If I 

 do not hear from you I will return the * Revue ' in a few 

 days (with the cover). I dare say Lyell would be glad to see 

 it. By the way, I will retain the volume till I hear whether 

 I shall or not send it to Lyell. I should rather like Lyell 

 to see this note, though it is foolish work sticking up for 

 independence or priority. 



Ever yours, 



C. Darwin. 



A. Sedgwick * to C. Darwin. 



Cambridge, December 24th, 1859. 

 My dear Darwin, — I write to thank you for your work on 

 the ' Origin of Species.' It came, I think, in the latter part 

 of last week ; but it may have come a few days sooner, and 

 been overlooked among my book-parcels, which often remain 

 unopened when I am lazy or busy with any work before me. 

 So soon as I opened it I began to read it, and I finished it, 

 after many interruptions, on Tuesday. Yesterday I was em- 

 ployed — 1st, in preparing for my lecture; 2ndly, in attending 



* Rev. Adam Sedgwick, Woodwardian Professor of Geology in the 

 University of Cambridge. Born 1785, died 1873. 



