To Charles Lyell   5 [July 1860]

Sudbrook Park | Richmond

Thursday 5th.

My dear Lyell

I thank you for your farewell note,—the last, for the present, of the very many most interesting letters, which you have so kindly written to me.—   I had no idea that you were going for so long;1 I am glad to hear that you are going to Amiens: do for goodness sake invent some theory to explain how the flint gravel was spread out high & low. I am, also, glad to hear that you are going to investigate post-glacial period—   it is a most interesting question with respect to distribution & many other things.2

I was rejoiced to hear yesterday that Etty was safely moved to Hartfield on Tuesday,—of course much exhausted. I leave this place on Saturday; somewhat improved in stomach for I was very bad, & am rejoiced that I did not attempt Oxford. Huxley, Hooker & J. Lubbock (as I am pleased to hear) seem to have stuck up for modification of Species like Trojans.3 Asa Gray, as I hear to day, also goes on fighting well.—   I am in good heart on the question & think we shall in long run conquer.—

Have you seen Hopkins in last Fraser?4 it is very well done & in good spirit; but I regret the soul-discussion, as I have told him. He very coolly puts it as if I had based my belief on what I rank as greatest difficulties. Anyone who will put forward the difficulties alone may make a very damaging review.—

I am particularly glad to hear about the Hare-rabbits:5 your facts have convinced me that they are hybrids, & I never was before quite convinced.—   I forget whether it is stated that the half & half breed inter se.—   The case is the more odd as I have at least two authorities who tried with perseverence & could never get the Hare & Rabbit to breed.

Ever my dear Lyell | Yours gratefully & affectionately | C. Darwin

Endorsement: ‘July 1860’

1
Lyell’s European tour lasted from 6 July until 23 September 1860 (Wilson ed. 1970, p. 490 n. 88).
2
Lyell’s letter has not been found. For a discussion of some of its contents, see the letter to Asa Gray, 3 July [1860].
3
See letter from J. D. Hooker, 2 July 1860, and letters to J. D. Hooker, [2 July 1860], to T. H. Huxley, 3 July [1860], and to John Lubbock, [4 July 1860].
4
The second part of Hopkins 1860 appeared in the July issue of Fraser’s Magazine.
5
In his scientific journal (Wilson ed. 1970, p. 465), Lyell recorded that he had seen the so-called ‘leporines’ during a visit to the zoological gardens in London on 1 July 1860. He further noted that the gestation periods of the two parent species differed, a point that related to the question of the fertility of hybrids.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.3 glad to] before del illeg
1.4 flint] interl
2.3 that] added
2.6 on the question] interl
4.4 could] altered from ‘cd’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-2860,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-2860