To J. F. W. Herschel   23 May [1861]

Summary

Thanks JFWH for his "Physical geography" [from the Encyclopaedia Britannica (1861)]

and for what he says about Origin, though JFWH goes but a little way with CD. Gives reasons why he cannot accept "Design" in nature, though he is in a "complete jumble" on the point. Is confident of his views because they have aided good workers in several fields to "group and understand many scattered facts".

Letter details

Record number

DCP-LETT-3154

From

Darwin, C. R.

To

Herschel, J. F. W.

Date

23 May [1861]

Sent from

Down

Source of text

The Royal Society (HS 6:17)

Physical description

4pp