My Dear Darwin

You asked me to tell you—when I had read it, what I thought of Sir Chas. Lyell’s book.¹ I have only today finished the perusal of the copy he kindly sent me, i.e. all but half of the matter on Glacial period²—which I reserve till I can read it more attentively. Throughout it is a very interesting and to me a very satisfactory book. It is three books.— 1. a capital resumé and examination of what we know about the evidence of antiquity of man,³—no evidence we had not read of before,—but very clearly presented, of course.—⁴ 2. a treatise on Glacial Per⁠⟨⁠iod.⁠⟩⁠⁵ Out of this I have m⁠⟨⁠uch to⁠⟩⁠ learn, and must read it all again carefully. Of a part I have not yet cut the leaves.

3. On transmutation-matters.⁶ That part of the book I can judge somewhat of, and I declare it first-rate. It is just about what I expected, and is characteristic of the man. I think that you, and Hooker, are unreasonable in complaining of Lyell that he does not come out “flat-footed” as we say, as an advocate of natural-selection transmutation.⁷ For 1. it is evident that tho’ inclined strongly towards ⁠⟨⁠it⁠⟩⁠ he is by no means satis⁠⟨⁠fied⁠⟩⁠ that nat. sel. will do ⁠⟨⁠all the⁠⟩⁠ work you put upon it. 2^nd. He very plainly implies nearly all you would have him say. And, 3^rd, he serves your cause (supposing it to be well-founded) quite as effectually,—perhaps, by his guarded position,⁸—by his keeping the position of a judge rather than of an advocate, and by considering still the case as not yet ripe for a decision.⁹

Very skillfully, too, has he presented the case of transmutation so as to commend it, as much as possible, to us orthodox people. (Huxley, I suppose, whose two books I have not seen, would put it in a way to frighten us off);¹⁰ indeed I think he has shown remarkable judgment and taste, & will have much success in disarming prejudice— And this is all you could ask.

The Chapter on language makes the points I supposed would be made,¹¹ or some of them, but only dips in;—leaving more to be said. But this is rather ticklish ground,—for, if we are not careful here, you would get the better of us in this field quoad designs.¹²

If I had got the book 3 or 4 weeks earlier, I should have worked in some notice of the last chapter into my review of De Candolle &c, on Species—in May no. of Sill. Journal.¹³

Now please, do not think of being ill this spring, and passing all your valuable time—wasting it—at water-cure.¹⁴

I have really—as you see, nothing special to write of this week, & no time to read what I have hurriedly penned. | Ever Yours cordially | Asa Gray