To Charles Lyell   12 [March 1860]

Down

12th

My dear Lyell

Thinking over what we talked about the high state of Intellectual development of the old Græcians with the little or no subsequent improvement being an apparent difficulty, it has just occurred to me that in fact the case harmonises perfectly with our views.—1

The case would be a decided difficulty on the Lamarckian or Vestigian doctrine of necessary progression, but on the view which I hold of progression depending on the conditions, it is no objection at all & harmonises with the other facts of progression in corporeal structure of other animals.—   For in a state of anarchy or despotism or bad government or after irruption of Barbarians force strength or ferocity & not intellect would be apt to gain the day.—

We have so enjoyed your & Lady Lyell’s visit—2 Good Night | C. Darwin

By an odd chance (for I had not alluded even to subject) the Ladies attacked me this evening & threw the high state of old Græcians into my teeth, as an unanswerable difficulty; but by good chance I had my answer all pat & silenced them.3 Hence I have thought it worth scribbling to you.—

Endorsement: ‘March | 1860’

1
Lyell recorded part of his discussion with CD in his scientific journal (Wilson ed. 1970, pp. 364–5).
2
Charles and Mary Elizabeth Lyell had visited Down from 9 to 12 March 1860 (Emma Darwin’s diary).
3
Probably a reference to Georgina and Ellen Harriet Tollet, childhood friends of Emma Darwin. Emma recorded in her diary on 10 March 1860 that the ‘Tollets’ came and stayed until 14 March. CD’s sister Emily Catherine Darwin was also visiting at the time.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.2 with the little … improvement] interl
1.3 the case] above del ‘in’
2.5 after] after del illeg
4.1 subject] ‘b’ over ‘j’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-5032,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-5032