i860.] GERMAN TRANSLATION. 2/9 



mind of the Lamarckian doctrine (which I reject) of habits of 

 life being all-important. Man has altered, and thus improved 

 the English race-horse by selecting successive fleeter indi- 

 viduals ; and I believe, owing to the struggle for existence, 

 that similar slight variations in a wild horse, if advantageous 

 to it, would be selected or preserved by nature ; hence Natural 

 Selection. But I apologise for troubling you with these 

 remarks on. the importance of choosing good German terms 

 for " Natural Selection." With my heartfelt thanks, and with 

 sincere respect, 



I remain, dear Sir, yours very sincerely, 



CHARLES DARWIN. 



C. D.irwin to H. G. Bronn. 



Down July 14 [1860). 



DEAR AND HONOURED SIR, On my return home, after an 

 absence of some time, I found the translation of the third 

 part * of the ' Origin,' and I have been delighted to see a final 

 chapter of criticisms by yourself. I have read the first few 

 paragraphs and final paragraph, and am perfectly contented, 

 indeed more than contented, with the generous and candid 

 spirit with which you have considered my views. You speak 

 with too much praise of my work. I shall, of course, care- 

 fully read the whole chapter ; but though I can read descrip- 

 tive books like Gaertner's pretty easily, when any reasoning 

 comes in, I find German excessively difficult to understand. 

 At some future time I should very much like to hear how my 

 book has been received in Germany, and I most sincerely 

 hope M. Schweitzerbart will not lose money by the publica- 

 tion. Most of the reviews have been bitterly opposed to me 

 in England, yet I have made some converts, and several 

 naturalists who would not believe in a word of it, are now 



* The German translation was published in three pamphlet-like 

 numbers. 



