think, make profit by the translation.


CHARLES DARWIN TO H.G. BRONN.
Down, February 14 [1860].

My dear and much honoured Sir,

I thank you cordially for your extreme kindness in superintending the
translation. I have mentioned this to some eminent scientific men, and
they all agree that you have done a noble and generous service. If I am
proved quite wrong, yet I comfort myself in thinking that my book may do
some good, as truth can only be known by rising victorious from every
attack. I thank you also much for the review, and for the kind manner in
which you speak of me. I send with this letter some corrections and
additions to M. Schweitzerbart, and a short historical preface. I am not
much acquainted with German authors, as I read German very slowly;
therefore I do not know whether any Germans have advocated similar views
with mine; if they have, would you do me the favour to insert a foot-note
to the preface? M. Schweitzerbart has now the reprint ready for a
translator to begin. Several scientific men have thought the term "Natural
Selection" good, because its meaning is NOT obvious, and each man could not
put on it his own interpretation, and because it at once connects variation
under domestication and nature. Is there any analogous term used by German
breeders of animals? "Adelung," ennobling, would, perhaps, be too
metaphysical. It is folly in me, but I cannot help doubting whether "Wahl
der Lebensweise" expresses my notion. It leaves the impression on my mind
of the Lamarckian doctrine (which I reject) of habits of life being all-
important. Man has altered, and thus improved the English race-horse by
SELECTING successive fleeter individuals; and I believe, owing to the