Dear Sir,

I am sorry that you have become involved in a troublesome controversy on my part. The sentence given by M^r Lyon in inverted commas is an invention, & it is a most unjustifiable proceeding on his part. He might of course have given any interpretation which he pleased of my words, but he had no right to put the words in inverted commas.¹ I may add that I have given in the later & more especially in the 6^th. Ed. of the Origin many cases showing how Common generalised forms, (that is forms partaking of the characters of existing distinct groups) are in all the more ancient formations.² I have always been curious to hear who wrote Homo v. Darwin. M^r. Lyon can hardly have the disposition of a gentleman, for in one place he states that I speak the truth solely because I should be found out if I lied.—³

I hope that you will soon be able to bring your controversy to an end and I remain in haste | Dear Sir, | Yours faithfully | Ch. Darwin