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To Charles Lyell   6 March [1863]

Summary

Comments at length on CL’s book [Antiquity of man (1863)]. CD is "greatly disappointed that you have not given judgment and spoken fairly out what you think about the derivation of species".

Lists large number of queries concerning minor points.

Praises especially the chapters on language and glaciers.

Comments on the temperature of Africa during the glacial period, especially with regard to the views of Hooker.

Mentions Owen’s paper on the aye-aye [Rep. BAAS 32 (1862) pt 2: 114–16].

Author:  Charles Robert Darwin
Addressee:  Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Date:  6 Mar [1863]
Classmark:  American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.289)
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-4028

From Charles Lyell   11 March 1863

Summary

Defends position he takes on species [in Antiquity of man]. CD overestimates CL’s capacity to influence public. Will not dogmatise on descent of man; prepared to accept it, but it "takes away much of the charm from my speculations on the past". Cannot go to Huxley’s length with regard to natural selection. Responds to CD’s comments on Antiquity of man.

Author:  Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  11 Mar 1863
Classmark:  K. M. Lyell ed. 1881, 2: 362–4
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-4035

To Charles Lyell   12–13 March [1863]

Summary

[On Antiquity of man] CD is "convinced that at times … you have … given up immutability". "A clear expression from you, if you could have given it, would have been potent with the public."

Objects to CL’s description of CD’s view "as a modification of Lamarck’s doctrine". Quotes Henrietta [Darwin]’s observations on this description.

Comments on CL’s controversy with Owen concerning the human brain.

The controversy between Falconer and CL.

The "wretched" review of CL [Antiquity of man, Athenæum 14 Feb 1863, pp. 219–21] and Huxley [Man’s place in nature].

Author:  Charles Robert Darwin
Addressee:  Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Date:  12–13 Mar [1863]
Classmark:  American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.290)
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-4038

From Charles Lyell   15 March 1863

Summary

Lyell has received compliments for letting readers draw own inferences [on species question]. Now feels he earlier did Lamarck injustice. [CD’s] substitution of variety-making power for volition [as in Lamarck] in some respects only a change of names.

Thinks Huxley taking on too many responsibilities.

Author:  Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  15 Mar 1863
Classmark:  K. M. Lyell ed. 1881, 2: 364–6
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-4041

To Charles Lyell   17 March [1863]

Summary

His better opinion [of work of Boucher de Perthes].

Explains his position on CL’s treatment of species.

Mentions positive response to his ideas on the part of a German professor [Ernst Haeckel], Alphonse de Candolle, and a botanical palaeontologist [Gaston de Saporta].

Notes negative reaction of entomologists.

Mentions Falconer’s objections [to Antiquity].

Mentions work of Hooker.

Comments on paper by Owen ["On the aye-aye", Rep. BAAS 32 (1862) pt 2: 114–16]

and CD’s review of Bates’s paper [Collected papers 2: 87–92].

Thinks Natural History Review is excellent.

Author:  Charles Robert Darwin
Addressee:  Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Date:  17 Mar [1863]
Classmark:  American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.291)
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-4047
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