i860.] 'NATURAL HISTORY REVIEW.' I2 i 



which is wonderful. ... It makes me say many things which 

 I do not say. At the end it quotes all your conclusions against 

 Lamarck, and makes a solemn appeal to you to keep firm in 



the true faith. I fancy it will make you quake a little. 



has ingeniously primed the Bishop (with Murchison) against 

 you as head of the uniformitarians. The only other review 

 worth mentioning, which I can think of, is in the third No. of 

 the ' London Review,' by some geologist, and favorable for a 

 wonder. It is very ably done, and I should like much to 

 know who is the author. I shall be very curious to hear on 

 your return whether Bronn's German translation of the 

 ' Origin ' has drawn any attention to the subject. Huxley 

 is eager about a ' Natural History Review,' which he and 

 others are going to edit, and he has got so many first-rate 

 assistants, that I really believe he will make it a first-rate 

 production. I have been doing nothing, except a little 

 botanical work as amusement. I shall hereafter be very 

 anxious to hear how your tour has answered. I expect your 

 book on the geological history of Man will, with a vengeance, 

 be a bomb-shell. I hope it will not be very long delayed. 

 Our kindest remembrances to Lady Lyell. This is not 

 worth sending, but I have nothing better to say. 



Yours affectionately, 



C. Darwin. 



C. Darwin to F. Watkins* 



Down, July 30th, [i860?] 



My dear Watkins, — Your note gave me real pleasure. 

 Leading the retired life which I do, with bad health, I oftener 

 think of old times than most men probably do ; and your 

 face now rises before me, with the pleasant old expression, as 

 vividly as if I saw you. 



My book has been well abused, praised, and splendidly 

 quizzed by the Bishop of Oxford ; but from what I see of its 

 influence on really good workers in science, I feel confident 



* See Vol. I. p. 144, 

 30 



