WCP7280

[1]

Down Beckenham

Nov. 14th. 1880

My dear Miss Buckley

I am very much obliged to you for sending me your new book, the appearance of which is most elegant.¹ I have read the two first chapters and shall hereafter read more; but just at present I have a lot of papers to read on account of work in hand.

I think that you have treated evolution with much dexterity and truthfulness; and it will be a very savage heretic-hunter who will persecute you. I daresay that you will escape, and you will not be called a dangerous woman.— Your plan seems to me an excellent one, and who can tell how many naturalists may spring up from the seed sown by you.— I heartily wish your book all success. At p. 4 I think you ought to except utter deserts, for I believe they support nothing.— I believe that you might make an equally interesting book for the young about Plants.

Pray believe me, my dear Miss Buckley, your’s sincerely | Ch. Darwin

I have despatched my paper about Wallace to Huxley² and have spoken again to Sir John Lubbock.—