tried hard to convince me.

I must say I differ rather about Ramsay's paper; perhaps he pushes it too
far. (528/2. "On the Glacial Origin of Certain Lakes, etc." "Quart.
Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XVIII., page 185. See Letter 503.) It struck me
the more from remembering some years ago marvelling what could be the
meaning of such a multitude of lakes in Friesland and other northern
districts. Ramsay wrote to me, and I suggested that he ought to compare
mountainous tropical regions with northern regions. I could not remember
many lakes in any mountainous tropical country. When Tyndall talks of
every valley in Switzerland being formed by glaciers, he seems to forget
there are valleys in the tropics; and it is monstrous, in my opinion, the
accounting for the Glacial period in the Alps by greater height of
mountains, and their lessened height, if I understand, by glacial erosion.
"Ne sutor ultra crepidam," I think, applies in this case to him. I am hard
at work on "Variation under Domestication." (528/3. Published 1868.)

P.S.--I am rather overwhelmed with letters at present, and it has just
occurred to me that perhaps you will forward my note to Mr. Jamieson; as it
will show that I entirely yield. I do believe every word in my Glen Roy
paper is false.


LETTER 529. TO C. LYELL.
Down, October 20th [1861].

Notwithstanding the orchids, I have been very glad to see Jamieson's
letter; no doubt, as he says, certainty will soon be reached.

With respect to the minor points of Glen Roy, I cannot feel easy with a