To Charles Lyell   13 [August 1861]

My dear Lyell

Very many thanks for the Orchids, which have proved extremely useful to me in two ways I did not anticipate, but were too monstrous (yet of some use) for my special purpose.¹

When you come to “Deification” ask yourself honestly whether what you are thinking applies to the endless variations of domestic production which man accumulates for his mere fancy or use. No doubt these are all caused by some unknown law, but I cannot believe they were ordained for any purpose; & if not so ordained under domesticity, I can see no reason to believe that they were ordained in a state of nature. Of course it may be said that when you kick a stone, or when a leaf falls from a tree, that it was ordained before the foundations of the world were laid, exactly where that stone or leaf should lie. In this sense the subject has no interest for me.—²

Once again many thanks for the orchids; you must let me repay you, what you paid the Collector.—

Ever Yours | C. Darwin