Dear Sir.

My time is so fully occupied that I cannot spare the time to discuss your essay.¹ The comparison of the stages of the life of an individual animal with those of a species or whole nation seems to me far fetched.

I do not believe that there has been progress in the case of all organisms; on the contrary much degradation during many generations, as with parasitic crustaceans and probably with parasitic worms.²

The belief in much degradation is spreading amongst many naturalists, as may be seen in Ray Lankesters recent (little?) book.³ On the other hand, I know of no evidence opposed to the belief in continuous progress in many lines of descent.

I am sorry that my note must be so short, and remain | yours faithfully | Ch Darwin