natural selection may have done something. This gives me hope that more
will ultimately come round to a certain extent to my views.

I shall ever consider myself deeply indebted to you for the immense service
and honour which you have conferred on me in making the excellent
translation of my book. Pray believe me, with most sincere respect,

Dear Sir, yours gratefully,
CHARLES DARWIN.


CHARLES DARWIN TO C. LYELL.
Down, [February 12th, 1860].

...I think it was a great pity that Huxley wasted so much time in the
lecture on the preliminary remarks;...but his lecture seemed to me very
fine and very bold. I have remonstrated (and he agrees) against the
impression that he would leave, that sterility was a universal and
infallible criterion of species.

You will, I am sure, make a grand discussion on man. I am so glad to hear
that you and Lady Lyell will come here. Pray fix your own time; and if it
did not suit us we would say so. We could then discuss man well...

How much I owe to you and Hooker! I do not suppose I should hardly ever
have published had it not been for you.


[The lecture referred to in the last letter was given at the Royal
Institution, February 10, 1860. The following letter was written in reply