To T. H. Huxley   2 December [1860]

My dear Huxley

I humbly beg pardon. I am getting old & dotty I suppose, for I was distinctly thinking of Von Baer & in both notes wrote von Siebold!¹ The Lord have mercy on poor old noddle.— I have not read Phillips though it lies staring me in the face;² for I have got fairly sick of hostile Reviews. Nevertheless they have been of use in showing me where to expatiate a little & to introduce a few new discussions. Of course, I will send you copy of new Edition.—

I entirely agree with you that the difficulties on my notions are terrific, yet having seen what all the Reviews have to say against me, I have far more confidence in the general truth of the doctrine that I formerly had.—   Another thing gives me confidence viz. that some who went $\frac{1}{2}$ an inch with me now go further, & some who were bitterly opposed are now less bitterly opposed. And this makes me feel a little disappointed that you are not inclined to think the general view in some slight degree more probable than you did at first. This I consider rather ominous. Otherwise I sh^d. be more than contented with your degree of belief.—   I can pretty plainly see that if my view is ever to be generally adopted, it will be by young men growing up & replacing the old workers, & these young ones finding that they can group facts & search out new lines of investigation better on the notion of descent, that on that of creation.—

But forgive me for running on so egotistically. Living so solitary as I do one gets to think in silly manner of one’s own work.—

Ever yours very sincerely | C. Darwin