To T. H. Huxley 22 November [1860]1
Down Bromley Kent
Nov. 22
My dear Huxley
I am so much obliged to you for telling me about Mac donnell & Mac donald:2 Since writing to you I have had a second, such a capital, letter from him.3 He will in time come round to our view on Species as I believe.— For Heaven sake don’t write an anti-Darwinian article; you would do it so confoundedly well.— I have sometimes amused myself with thinking how I could best pitch into myself, & I believe I could give two or three good digs; but I will see you — first, before I will try.— I shall be very impatient to see the Review.4 If it succeeds, it may really do much, very much good.—
I cannot imagine what name in one of your notes I mistook (what an odd thing that I shd. not read your handwriting) for Von Siebold.5 I remember you said that the man had written to enquire where one of your Reviews was;—that he was interested in subject;—that in some work on Ethnography he had already expressed similar views, founded, chiefly, I think on geographical considerations; & lastly that perhaps he would take opportunity publickly to say something more on subject. This latter remembrance made me ask whether he had written.— I now remember you began your note by saying he was equal to Owen + Agassiz or some such expression. I cannot have dreamed all this.6 I suppose I shall some time come to London & shall see you & you must tell me who it is.—
Ever my dear Huxley | Yours most truly | C. Darwin
I heard today from Murray that I must set to work at once on new Edit of Origin. He sold at his sale 700 copies & has not the number. Says the Reviews have not injured sale.— I shall always think those early Reviews, almost entirely yours,—did the subject an enormous service.— If you have any important suggestion or criticism to make on any part of Origin I shd. of course be grateful for it. For I mean to correct as far as I can, but not enlarge. How you must be wearied with & hate the subject & it is God’s Blessing if you do not get to hate me.—
Adios
Footnotes
Bibliography
Origin: On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1859.
Summary
Has had a good letter from Robert McDonnell. Thinks he will be converted in time.
Impatient to see first number of Natural History Review.
Murray wants a new edition of Origin immediately.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-2994
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Thomas Henry Huxley
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine Archives (Huxley 5: 147)
- Physical description
- ALS 6pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 2994,” accessed on 26 September 2022, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2994.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 8