From T. M. Reade   7 December 1880

My dear Sir

Will you kindly read the letter of Topley’s in the Geo. Mag I send you. p—573— You are quoted by him as an authority in favor of the views of the permanence of the positions of Oceans & Continents through all geological time—¹

It appears to me after reading what you say in the 4^th Edition of your “Origin of Species” that the words Mr Topley quotes, mostly the qualifying “if”. scarcely bear out the inference he wishes drawn—² You put the views forward distinctly as an hypothesis to meet certain difficulties in the evidence of geology with respect to evolution— The question is a very important one and can scarcely be settled by quoting authority— it is a matter of evidence.

Faithfully Yours | T. Mellard Reade

D^r. C^has Darwin FRS. &c

Will you kindly return the Magazine.—