Canterbury Pieces | Page 4

so closely connected, and thus possesses an
interest apart from its intrinsic merit, a few words as to the
circumstances in which it was published will not be out of place.
Butler arrived in New Zealand in October, 1859, and about the same
time Charles Darwin's ORIGIN OF SPECIES was published. Shortly
afterwards the book came into Butler's hands. He seems to have read it
carefully, and meditated upon it. The result of his meditations took the
shape of the following dialogue, which was published on 20 December,
1862, in the PRESS which had been started in the town of Christ
Church in May, 1861. The dialogue did not by any means pass
unnoticed. On the 17th of January, 1863, a leading article (of course
unsigned) appeared in the PRESS, under the title "Barrel- Organs,"
discussing Darwin's theories, and incidentally referring to Butler's
dialogue. A reply to this article, signed A .M., appeared on the 21st of
February, and the correspondence was continued until the 22nd of June,
1863. The dialogue itself, which was unearthed from the early files of
the PRESS, mainly owing to the exertions of Mr. Henry Festing Jones,
was reprinted, together with the correspondence that followed its
publication, in the PRESS of June 8 and 15, 1912. Soon after the
original appearance of Butler's dialogue a copy of it fell into the hands
of Charles Darwin, possibly sent to him by a friend in New Zealand.
Darwin was sufficiently struck by it to forward it to the editor of some
magazine, which has not been identified, with the following letter:-
Down, Bromley, Kent, S.E. March 24 [1863].

(Private).
Mr. Darwin takes the liberty to send by this post to the Editor a New
Zealand newspaper for the very improbable chance of the Editor having
some spare space to reprint a Dialogue on Species. This Dialogue,
written by some [sic] quite unknown to Mr. Darwin, is remarkable
from its spirit and from giving so clear and accurate a view of Mr. D.
[sic] theory. It is also remarkable from being published in a colony
exactly 12 years old, in which it might have [sic] thought only material
interests would have been regarded.
The autograph of this letter was purchased from Mr. Tregaskis by Mr.
Festing Jones, and subsequently presented by him to the Museum at
Christ Church. The letter cannot be dated with certainty, but since
Butler's dialogue was published in December, 1862, and it is at least
probable that the copy of the PRESS which contained it was sent to
Darwin shortly after it appeared, we may conclude with tolerable
certainty that the letter was written in March, 1863. Further light is
thrown on the controversy by a correspondence which took place
between Butler and Darwin in 1865, shortly after Butler's return to
England. During that year Butler had published a pamphlet entitled
THE EVIDENCE FOR THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
AS GIVEN BY THE FOUR EVANGELISTS CRITICALLY
EXAMINED, of which he afterwards incorporated the substance into
THE FAIR HAVEN. Butler sent a copy of this pamphlet to Darwin,
and in due course received the following reply:-
Down, Bromley, Kent. September 30 [1865].
My dear Sir,--I am much obliged to you for so kindly sending me your
Evidences, etc. We have read it with much interest. It seems to me
written with much force, vigour, and clearness; and the main argument
to me is quite new. I particularly agree with all you say in your preface.
I do not know whether you intend to return to New Zealand, and, if you
are inclined to write, I should much like to know what your future plans
are.
My health has been so bad during the last five months that I have been
confined to my bedroom. Had it been otherwise I would have asked
you if you could have spared the time to have paid us a visit; but this at
present is impossible, and I fear will be so for some time.
With my best thanks for your present,

I remain, My dear Sir, Yours very faithfully, Charles Darwin.
To this letter Butler replied as follows:-
15 Clifford's Inn, E.C. October 1st, 1865.
Dear Sir,--I knew you were ill and I never meant to give you the fatigue
of writing to me. Please do not trouble yourself to do so again. As you
kindly ask my plans I may say that, though I very probably may return
to New Zealand in three or four years, I have no intention of doing so
before that time. My study is art, and anything else I may indulge in is
only by-play; it may cause you some little wonder that at my age I
should have started as an art student, and I may perhaps be permitted to
explain that this