I98 SPREAD OF EVOLUTION. [1863. 



C. Darwin to C. Lyell. 



Down, 12 [March, 1863]. 

 My Dear Lyell, — I thank you for your very interesting 

 and kind, I may say, charming letter. I feared you might be 

 huffed for a little time with me. I know some men would 

 have been so. I have hardly any more criticisms, anyhow, 

 worth writing. But I may mention that I felt a little surprise 

 that old B. de Perthes * was not rather more honourably men- 

 tioned. I would suggest whether you could not leave out 

 some references to the ' Principles ; ' one for the real student 

 is as good as a hundred, and it is rather irritating, and gives 

 a feeling of incompleteness to the general reader to be often 

 referred to other books. As you say that you have gone as far 

 as you believe on the species question, I have not a word to 

 say ; but I must feel convinced that at times, judging from 

 conversation, expressions, letters, &c, you have as completely 

 given up belief in immutability of specific forms as I have 

 done. I must still think a clear expression from you, if you 

 could have given it, would have been potent with the public, 

 and all the more so, as you formerly held opposite opinions. 

 The more I work the more satisfied I become with variation 

 and natural selection, but that part of the case I look at as 

 less important, though more interesting to me personally. As 

 you ask for criticisms on this head (and believe me that 

 I should not have made them unasked), I may specify 

 (pp. 412, 413) that such words as " Mr. D. labours to show," 

 " is believed by the author to throw light," would lead a 

 common reader to think that you yourself do not at all agree, 

 but merely think it fair to give my opinion. Lastly, you 

 refer repeatedly to my view as a modification of Lamarck's 

 doctrine of development and progression. If this is your 

 deliberate opinion there is nothing to be said, but it does 

 not seem so to me. Plato, Buffon, my grandfather before 



* Born 1788, died 1868. See footnote, p. 16. 



