1 859-] AGASSIZ. 215 



so slight a degree, shaken any of your objections. Farewell. 

 With my cordial thanks for your long letters and valuable 

 remarks, 



Believe me, yours most truly, 



C. DARWIN. 



P.S. You often allude to Lamarck's work ; I do not know 

 what you think about it, but it appeared to me extremely 

 poor ; I got not a fact or idea from it. 



C. Darwin to L. Agassiz* 



Down, November nth [1859]. 



MY DEAR SIR, I have ventured to send you a copy of my 

 book (as yet only an abstract) on the ' Origin of Species.' 

 As the conclusions at which I have arrived on several points 

 differ so widely from yours, I have thought (should you at 

 any time read my volume) that you might think that I had 

 sent it to you out of a spirit of defiance or bravado ; but I 

 assure you that I act under a wholly different frame of mind. 

 I hope that you will at least give me credit, however erro- 

 neous you may think my conclusions, for having earnestly 

 endeavoured to arrive at the truth. With sincere respect, 



I beg leave to remain, 



Yours very faithfully, 



CHARLES DARWIN. 



* Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz, " I have seldom been more deeply 



bornat Mortier,onthelakeof Morat gratified than by receiving your 



in Switzerland, on May 28, 1807. most kind present of ' Lake Su- 



He emigrated to America in 1846, perior.' I had heard of it, and had 



where he spent the rest of his life, much wished to read it, but I con- 



and died Dec. 14, 1873. His ' Life,' fess that it was the very great 



written by his widow, was published honour of having in my posses- 



in 1885. The following extract from sion a work with your autograph 



a letter to Agassiz (1850) is worth as a presentation copy, that has 



giving, as showing how my father given me such lively and sincere 



regarded him, and it may be added pleasure. I cordially thank you 



that his cordial feelings towards the for it. I have begun to read it 



great American naturalist remained with uncommon interest, which I 



strong to the end of his life : see will increase as I go on." 



