From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [26? January 1885]

My dear William

I had a long talk w. Leo which has helped to settle my mind, & I quite agree to the publication of the Fragment with the exception of one passage— p. 42– beginning "But I had gradually become— & ending "This appeared to me utterly incredible"

For myself I quite agree with these opinions but it would give such a violent revulsion & shock to most believers that I should feel it wrong without a very strong motive to do so—

Leonard wishes to cancel the whole paragraph, as far as "but as they influenced me", & I should prefer it too, but not to the same extent as the first part— The objections to Revelation in both parts are so obvious & well known, (as your father says) that I should like to omit them—

I should also like to omit (& Henrietta feels this strongly too) the short passage just after, ending "& have never doubted for a single second that my conclusion was correct". This sounds presumtupus & I don't think it was what your father meant to express; but that he never for a single second altered his opinion on this part of the subject (viz the evidences of Christianity)—To say that ones conclusion is correct on such an immense subject as religion does strike me as dogmatic.

As we go against Hen's opinion in the whole matter I sh^d be glad if you c^d agree to this. I agree with her in thinking as far as I can judge the whole is not what the world will think worthy of the highest powers of his mind— but Leonard has put before me his opinion of the great simplicity of the whole (I may say here that Leonard does not feel the least objection so omitting any part of this or of the whole Auto–B–, even without making any mark to shew that some part is omitted). It would require a few words by Frank such as "After detailing his disbelief in the Old Testament & the steps, he continues "I gradually came to disbelieve in Xianity as a divine revelation". I have made a mess of it but you know the sort of thing I mean—

About the letters which I return I admire most the one to Doedn. ending "but man can do his duty"— Leonard thinks that a disquisition on the being of God or immortality does not excite nearly such bitter feelings as a definite attack on the old or New Testament—

The passage to which Leo has put "stet", about the morality of the New Testament has given us many doubts— I sh^d be sorry to omit it on one account & yet I cannot understand it—

The alternative in my mind to omitting the 1^st passage w^d be to omit the whole disquisition, or what I think you w^d prefer, the whole Auto. This w^d no doubt lessen the interest of the Life to a great degree. Frank w^d have to supplement the loss by an account of his early life written by himself, & the letters would tell his progress of feeling a great deal— Then the Auto–w^d be kept by you.

I think as all the brothers & sisters have been consulted George should not be omitted & I believe he will soon be at home— I shall now be able to cast the subject off my mind.

I have had some talks w. Hen. I don't think her opinion is shaken but she is reasonable & moderate

Frank believes he has the originals of those letters.