Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, vol 2 | Page 9

that a false theory would explain so many
classes of facts as I think it certainly does explain. On these grounds I
drop my anchor, and believe that the difficulties will slowly disappear...
CHARLES DARWIN TO J.S. HENSLOW. Down, November 11th,
1859.
My dear Henslow,
I have told Murray to send a copy of my book on Species to you, my
dear old master in Natural History; I fear, however, that you will not
approve of your pupil in this case. The book in its present state does not
show the amount of labour which I have bestowed on the subject.
If you have time to read it carefully, and would take the trouble to point
out what parts seem weakest to you and what best, it would be a most
material aid to me in writing my bigger book, which I hope to
commence in a few months. You know also how highly I value your
judgment. But I am not so unreasonable as to wish or expect you to
write detailed and lengthy criticisms, but merely a few general remarks,
pointing out the weakest parts.
If you are IN EVEN SO SLIGHT A DEGREE staggered (which I
hardly expect) on the immutability of species, then I am convinced with
further reflection you will become more and more staggered, for this
has been the process through which my mind has gone. My dear
Henslow,
Yours affectionately and gratefully, C. DARWIN.
CHARLES DARWIN TO JOHN LUBBOCK. (The present Sir John

Lubbock.) Ilkley, Yorkshire, Saturday [November 12th, 1859].
...Thank you much for asking me to Brighton. I hope much that you
will enjoy your holiday. I have told Murray to send a copy for you to
Mansion House Street, and I am surprised that you have not received it.
There are so many valid and weighty arguments against my notions,
that you, or any one, if you wish on the other side, will easily persuade
yourself that I am wholly in error, and no doubt I am in part in error,
perhaps wholly so, though I cannot see the blindness of my ways. I
dare say when thunder and lightning were first proved to be due to
secondary causes, some regretted to give up the idea that each flash was
caused by the direct hand of God.
Farewell, I am feeling very unwell to-day, so no more.
Yours very truly, C. DARWIN.
CHARLES DARWIN TO JOHN LUBBOCK. Ilkley, Yorkshire,
Tuesday [November 15th, 1859].
My dear Lubbock,
I beg pardon for troubling you again. I do not know how I blundered in
expressing myself in making you believe that we accepted your kind
invitation to Brighton. I meant merely to thank you sincerely for
wishing to see such a worn-out old dog as myself. I hardly know when
we leave this place,--not under a fortnight, and then we shall wish to
rest under our own roof-tree.
I do not think I hardly ever admired a book more than Paley's 'Natural
Theology.' I could almost formerly have said it by heart.
I am glad you have got my book, but I fear that you value it far too
highly. I should be grateful for any criticisms. I care not for Reviews;
but for the opinion of men like you and Hooker and Huxley and Lyell,
etc.
Farewell, with our joint thanks to Mrs. Lubbock and yourself. Adios.
C. DARWIN.
CHARLES DARWIN TO L. JENYNS. (Now Rev. L. Blomefield.)
Ilkley, Yorkshire, November 13th, 1859.
My dear Jenyns,
I must thank you for your very kind note forwarded to me from Down.
I have been much out of health this summer, and have been
hydropathising here for the last six weeks with very little good as yet. I
shall stay here for another fortnight at least. Please remember that my

book is only an abstract, and very much condensed, and, to be at all
intelligible, must be carefully read. I shall be very grateful for any
criticisms. But I know perfectly well that you will not at all agree with
the lengths which I go. It took long years to convert me. I may, of
course, be egregiously wrong; but I cannot persuade myself that a
theory which explains (as I think it certainly does) several large classes
of facts, can be wholly wrong; notwithstanding the several difficulties
which have to be surmounted somehow, and which stagger me even to
this day.
I wish that my health had allowed me to publish in extenso; if ever I get
strong enough I will do so, as the greater part is written out, and of
which MS. the present volume is an abstract.
I fear this note will be almost illegible; but I am poorly, and can hardly
sit up. Farewell; with thanks for your kind note and pleasant