main true, I thank and honour you for being willing to run the chance of
unpopularity by advocating the view. I know not in the least whether any
one will review me in any of the Reviews. I do not see how an author could
enquire or interfere; but if you are willing to review me anywhere, I am
sure from the admiration which I have long felt and expressed for your
'Comparative Physiology,' that your review will be excellently done, and
will do good service in the cause for which I think I am not selfishly
deeply interested. I am feeling very unwell to-day, and this note is
badly, perhaps hardly intelligibly, expressed; but you must excuse me, for
I could not let a post pass, without thanking you for your note. You will
have a tough job even to shake in the slightest degree Sir H. Holland. I
do not think (privately I say it) that the great man has knowledge enough
to enter on the subject. Pray believe me with sincerity, Yours truly
obliged,

C. DARWIN.

P.S.--As you are not a practical geologist, let me add that Lyell thinks
the chapter on the Imperfection of the Geological Record NOT exaggerated.


CHARLES DARWIN TO W.B. CARPENTER.
Ilkley, Yorkshire,
November 19th [1859].

My dear Carpenter,

I beg pardon for troubling you again. If, after reading my book, you are
able to come to a conclusion in any degree definite, will you think me very
unreasonable in asking you to let me hear from you. I do not ask for a