Volume I Part 44 (1/2)

I have received your letters I cannot think now (So soon after the death, from scarlet fever, of his infant child) on the subject, but soon will But I can see that you have acted with more kindness, and so has Lyell, even than I could have expected froet my letter to Asa Gray copied, but it is too short

God bless you You shall hear soon, as soon as I can think

Yours affectionately, C DARWIN

CHARLES DARWIN TO JD HOOKER Tuesday night [June 29, 1858]

My dear Hooker,

I have just read your letter, and see you want the papers at once I a, but I send Wallace, and the abstract (”Abstract” is here used in the sense of ”extract;” in this sense also it occurs in the 'Linnean Journal,' where the sources of my father's paper are described) of ives e, and does not touch on reasons for believing that species do change I dare say all is too late I hardly care about it But you are too generous to sacrifice so enerous, most kind I send my sketch of 1844 solely that youthat you did read it

I really cannot bear to look at it Do not waste much time It is miserable in me to care at all about priority

The table of contents will shohat it is

I would make a similar, but shorter and more accurate sketch for the 'Linnean Journal'

I will do anything God bless you, my dear kind friend

I can write no more I send this by my servant to Kew

Yours, C DARWIN

[The following letter is that already referred to as for part of the joint paper published in the Linnean Society's 'Journal,' 1858]:--

CHARLES DARWIN TO ASA GRAY Down, Septeiven as October in the 'Linnean Journal' The extracts were printed from a duplicate undated copy in my father's possession, on which he had written, ”This was sent to Asa Gray 8 or 9 o, I think October 1857”)

My dear Gray,

I forget the exact words which I used in ht you would utterly despise me when I told you what views I had arrived at, which I did because I thought I was bound as an honesthowthis I hadto you Permit me to tell you that, before I had ever corresponded with you, Hooker had shown me several of your letters (not of a private nature), and these gaveof respect to you; and I should indeed be ungrateful if your letters to ly enhanced this feeling But I did not feel in the least sure that when you knehither I was tending, that you ht not think me so wild and foolish in h, and I hope conscientiously), that you would think ive one example: the last tiorously, but quite kindly, and told ood I can see that you have already CORRUPTED and half-spoiled Hooker!!” Nohen I see such strong feeling in my oldest friends, you need not wonder that I always expect h and too much of this

I thank you ree to every word in it, and think I go as far as alainst o, all the argureater the scope of fory leads e The facts which kept est scientifically orthodox are those of adaptation--the pollen-masses in asclepias--the mistletoe, with its pollen carried by insects, and seed by birds--the woodpecker, with its feet and tail, beak and tongue, to climb the tree and secure insects To talk of cli such adaptations to other organic beings is futile This difficulty I believe I have surmounted As you seee to me to write to you and to hear, ever so briefly, what you think, I will enclose (copied, so as to save you trouble in reading) the briefest abstract of my notions on the means by which Nature makes her species

Why I think that species have really changed, depends on general facts in the affinities, eraphical distribution of organic beings In regard to raph occupying one or two chapters in my book You will, perhaps, think it paltry in me, when I ask you not to mention my doctrine; the reason is, if any one, like the author of the 'Vestiges,' were to hear of theht easily work them in, and then I should have to quote froreatly injure any chance ofreceived by those alone whose opinions I value [Here follows a discussion on ”large genera varying,” which has no direct connection with the remainder of the letter]

I It is wonderful what the principle of Selection by Man, that is the picking out of individuals with any desired quality, and breeding fro out, can do Even breeders have been astonished at their own results They can act on differences inappreciable to an uneducated eye Selection has been METHODICALLY followed in Europe for only the last half century But it has occasionally, and even in soree methodically, been followed in the most ancient times There must have been also a kind of unconscious selection from the most ancient times, namely, in the preservation of the individual ani) most useful to each race of ,” as nursery- of varieties, which depart from their type, is a kind of selection I am convinced that intentional and occasional selection has been theour doreat power of modification has been indisputedly shown in late tiht or greater variations, caused by external conditions, or by the eneration the child is not absolutely si variations, adapts living beings to his wants--he MAY BE SAID to ood for carpets, and another for cloth, etc

II Now, suppose there was a being, who did not judge by mere external appearance, but could study the whole internal organisation--who never was capricious--who should go on selecting for one end during ht not effect! In nature we have some SLIGHT variations, occasionally in all parts: and I think it can be shown that a change in the conditions of existence is theits parents; and in nature, geology shows us what changes have taken place, and are taking place We have alist can fully appreciate this: think of the Glacial period, during the whole of which the same species of shells at least have existed; there enerations

III I think it can be shown that there is such an unerring power at work, or NATURAL SELECTION (the title of anic being The elder De Candolle, W Herbert, and Lyell, have written strongly on the struggle for life; but even they have not written strongly enough Reflect that every being (even the elephant) breeds at such a rate that, in a few years, or at most a few centuries or thousands of years, the surface of the earth would not hold the progeny of any one species I have found it hard constantly to bear in le species is checked during soeneration Only a few of those annually born can live to propagate their kind What a trifling difference must often determine which shall survive and which perish

IV Now take the case of a country undergoing soe; this will tend to cause sohtly; not but what I believe h for selection to act on

Some of its inhabitants will be exterminated, and the remainder will be exposed to the mutual action of a different set of inhabitants, which I believe to bethan s have to obtain food by struggling with other beings, to escape danger at various tis or seeds disseenerations individuals of a species will be born with soht variation profitable to some part of its econo this variation, which again will be slowly increased by the accumulative action of natural selection; and the variety thus formed will either coexist with, or anic being like the woodpecker, or the encies; natural selection, accuht variations in all parts of its structure which are in any way useful to it, during any part of its life

V Multiform difficulties will occur to every one on this theory Most can, I think, be satisfactorily answered--”Natura non facit saltum”