To G. C. Wallich 28 March 1882
Down, | Beckenham, Kent.
Mar 28 1882
My dear Sir
You expressed quite correctly my views where you say that I had intentionally left the question of the origin of life uncanvassed as being altogether ultra vires in the present state of our knowledge, and that I dealt only with the manner of succession.1 I have met with no evidence that seems in the least trustworthy in favour of so-called spontaneous generation.2 I believe that I have somewhere said (but cannot find the passage) that the principle of continuity renders it probable that hereafter life will be shown to be a part or consequence of some general law; but this is only conjecture and not science3 I know nothing about the Protista, and shall be very glad to read your lecture when it is published, if you will be so kind as to send me a copy.
I remain, my dear Sir, | Yours very faithfully | Charles Darwin
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Summary
GCW has correctly expressed CD’s views when he says he intentionally left the question of the origin of life uncanvassed as being altogether ultra vires in the present state of our knowledge. Thinks he may somewhere have said that principle of continuity renders it possible that the principle of life will be shown to be a part of, or consequence of, some general law.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-13747
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- George Charles Wallich
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- Karpeles Manuscript Library Museums
- Physical description
- LS 3pp & C 2pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 13747,” accessed on 25 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-13747.xml
