LIFE AND LETTERS 



OF 



CHARLES DARWIN. 



CHAPTER I. 



THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE 'ORIGIN OF SPECIES.' 



[IN the first volume, p. 82, the growth of the c Origin of Species ' 

 has been briefly described in my father's words. The letters 

 given in the present and following chapters will illustrate and 

 amplify the history thus sketched out. 



It is clear that, in the early part of the voyage of the Beagle 

 he did not feel it inconsistent with his views to express him- 

 self in thoroughly orthodox language as to the genesis of new 

 species. Thus in 1834 he wrote* at Valparaiso: "I have 

 already found beds of recent shells yet retaining their colour 

 at an elevation of 1300 feet, and beneath the level country is 

 strewn with them. It seems not a very improbable conjecture 

 that the want of animals may be owing to none having been 

 created since this country was raised from the sea." 



This passage does not occur in the published ' Journal,' the 

 last proof of which was finished in 1837; and this fact har- 

 monizes with the change we know to have been proceeding in 

 his views. But in the published ' Journal ' we find passages 

 which show a point of view more in accordance with orthodox 



* MS. Journals, p. 468. 

 VOL. II. B 



