i860.] ATTACKS. 317 



really understand what I mean by Natural Selection. I am 

 inclined to give up the attempt as hopeless. Those who do 

 not understand, it seems, cannot be made to understand. 



By the way, I think, we entirely agree, except perhaps that 

 I use too forcible language about selection. I entirely agree, 

 indeed would almost go further than you when you say that 

 climate (i.e. variability from all unknown causes) is " an active 

 handmaid, influencing its mistress most materially." Indeed, 

 I have never hinted that Natural Selection is " the efficient 

 cause to the exclusion of the other," i.e. variability from 

 Climate, &c. The very term selection implies something, i.e. 

 variation or difference, to be selected. . . . 



How does your book progress (I mean your general sort of 

 book on plants), I hope to God you will be more successful 

 than I have been in making people understand your meaning. 

 I should begin to think myself wholly in the wrong, and that 

 I was an utter fool, but then I cannot yet persuade myself, 

 that Lyell, and you and Huxley, Carpenter, Asa Gray, and 

 Watson, &c., are all fools together. Well, time will show, and 

 nothing but time. Farewell. . . . 



C. Darwin to C. Lyell. 



Down, June 6th [1860]. 



... It consoles me that sneers at Malthus, for that 



clearly shows, mathematician though he may be, he cannot 

 understand common reasoning. By the way what a dis- 

 couraging example Malthus is, to show during what long 

 years the plainest case may be misrepresented and mis- 

 understood. I have read the ' Future ' ; how curious it is 

 that several of my reviewers should advance such wild 

 arguments, as that varieties of dogs and cats do not 

 mingle ; and should bring up the old exploded doctrine of 

 definite analogies ... I am beginning to despair of ever 

 making the majority understand my notions. Even Hopkins 



