To Charles Lyell 28 August [1860]
Summary
The adultery of Lady [Harriet Spencer] Grey and Captain Keppell.
A new species of elephant discovered by Hugh Falconer.
Comments on excellent review by Asa Gray [Atlantic Monthly 6 (1860): 229–39].
Still believes dogs descended from several wild stocks.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
| Date: | 28 Aug [1860] |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.224) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2900 |
From Charles Lyell 28 August 1860
Summary
Objections to Origin which Owen and Wilberforce could have used. Why have incipient mammalian forms not arisen from lower vertebrates on islands separated since Miocene period? Knows CD would not derive Eocene Mammalia from higher reptiles, but would bats not be modified into other mammalian forms on an ancient island? This is not the case in New Zealand. Why have island seals not become terrestrial? Assumes rate of change is greatest in mammals. Difficulties are small compared with ability to explain absence of Mammalia in pre-Pliocene islands. Asks about descent of Amblyrhynchus. Believes objections apply equally well to independent creation of animal types, but not if the First Cause is allowed completely free agency.
| Author: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 28 Aug 1860 |
| Classmark: | The University of Edinburgh Centre for Research Collections (Lyell collection Coll-203/A3/6: 164–71) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2900A |
| letter | (2) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (1) |
| Lyell, Charles | (1) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (1) |
| Lyell, Charles | (1) |
| Darwin, C. R. | |
| Lyell, Charles | (2) |
