My dear Darwin

I finished your book yesterday a lucky examination having furnished me with a few hours of continuous leisure—

Since I read Von Bär’s Essays nine years ago¹ no work on Natural History Science I have met with has made so great an impression upon me & I do most heartily thank you for the great store of new views you have given me

Nothing I think can be better than the tone of the book—it impresses those who know nothing about the subject—

As for your doctrines I am prepared to go to the Stake if requisite in support of Chap. IX. & most part of Chaps. X, XI XII & Chap XIII. contains much that is most admirable, but on one or two points I enter a caveat until, I can see further into all sides of this question

As to the first four chapters I agree thoroughly & fully with all the principles laid down in them— I think you have demonstrated a true cause for the production of species & have thrown the onus probandi that species did not arise in the way you suppose on your adversaries—

But I feel that I have not yet by any means fully realized the bearings of those most remarkable & original Chapt III IV & V and I will write no more about them just now—

The only objections that have occurred to me are 1^st that you have loaded yourself with an unnecessary difficulty in adopting ‘Natura non facit saltum’ so unreservedly. I believe she does make small jumps—and 2^nd. it is not clear to me why if external physical conditions are of so little moment as you suppose variation should occur at all—

However, I must read the book two or three times more before I presume to begin picking holes—

I trust you will not allow yourself to be in any way disgusted or annoyed by the considerable abuse & misrepresentation which unless I greatly mistake is in store for you— Depend upon it you have earned the lasting gratitude of all thoughtful men— And as to the curs which will bark & yelp—you must recollect that some of your friends at any rate are endowed with an amount of combativeness which (though you have often & justly rebuked it) may stand you in good stead—²

I am sharpening up my claws & beak in readiness

Looking back over my letter it really expresses so feebly all I think about you & your noble book that I am half ashamed of it—but you will understand that like the Parrot in the story ‘I think the more’³

Ever yours faithfully | T H Huxley