Ɛpsilon

From Francois Jules Pictet de la Rive1   19 February 1860

Geneva

19. Feby. 1860

Your book makes science young clear, elevated, but no facts

to prove that principle that slight modification multiplied by any factor of time no matter how long could reach the character of families &c or cd. produce profound modifics. in organization.—2

incomplete Copy

1
Pictet de la Rive’s letter has not been found. The text has been transcribed from Charles Lyell’s scientific journal. It is also printed in Wilson ed. 1970, p. 354. The entry in Lyell’s journal is headed: ‘Pictet to C. Darwin, Geneva 19 Feby.1860’.
2
CD sent Pictet de la Rive a presentation copy of Origin (see Correspondence vol.8, Appendix III). CD had been impressed by the discussion of the species question in Pictet de la Rive 1853–7 and thought that Pictet might be swayed by his theory. See Correspondence vol. 7, letters to F. J. Pictet de la Rive, 11 November [1859], and 24 December [1859].

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-2704A,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-2704A