382 SPREAD OF EVOLUTION. [l86l. 



up.* And what a wretched thing it will be if we fight on the 

 side of slavery. No doubt it will be said that we fight to get 

 cotton ; but I fully believe that this has not entered into the 

 motive in the least. Well, thank Heaven, we private indi- 

 viduals have nothing to do with so awful a responsibility. 

 Again, how curious it is that you seem to think that you can 

 conquer the South ; and I never meet a soul, even those who 

 would most wish it, who thinks it possible that is, to conquer 

 and retain it. I do not suppose the mass of people in your 

 country will believe it, but I feel sure if we do go to war it 

 will be with the utmost reluctance by all classes, Ministers of 

 Government and all. Time will show, and it is no use writing 

 or thinking about it. I called the other day on Dr. Boott, 

 and was pleased to find him pretty well and cheerful. I see, 

 by the way, he takes quite an English opinion of American 

 affairs, though an American in heart .f Buckle might write 

 a chapter on opinion being entirely dependent on longitude ! 



. . . With respect to Design, I feel more inclined to show 

 a white flag than to fire my usual long-range shot. I like to 

 try and ask you a puzzling question, but when you return the 

 compliment I have great doubts whether it is a fair way of 

 arguing. If anything is designed, certainly man must be : 

 one's " inner consciousness " (though a false guide) tells one 

 so ; yet I cannot admit that man's rudimentary mammae . . . 

 were designed. If I was to say I believed this, I should 

 believe it in the same incredible manner as the orthodox 

 believe the Trinity in Unity. You say that you are in a 

 haze ; I am in thick mud ; the orthodox would say in fetid, 

 abominable mud ; yet I cannot keep out of the question. 

 My dear Gray, I have written a deal of nonsense. 



Yours most cordially, 



C. DARWIN. 



* The Confederate Commis- Nov. 8, 1861. The news that the 



sioners Slidell and Mason were U.S. agreed to release them reached 



forcibly removed from the Trent, England on Jan. 8, 1862. 



a West India mail steamer, on f Dr. Boott was born in the U.S. 



