Darwin Correspondence Project

Down. | Bromley Kent.

Feb. 16th.2

My dear Sir.

I am much obliged for your kind note & pamphlet— The latter seems to me very interesting, & I agree with all that you say about the course of development of the intellect of man; especially about the dreadful waste of time, on the dead languages, German would be difficult enough if learning a language be good exercise for the mind, & how incomparably more useful.— I really have no suggestions or criticisms worth giving    it would indeed be presumptuous to think that I had, for I have never thought much about Human Progression or on the all important subject of Education—   I can, however, say from my own personal experience with my five Boys that it is surprising how very early in life they take vivid interest in & understand something of Natural Philosophy—   If you enlarge the pamphlet into a Book, it might be very valuable; especially if it were any how possible to make it, when enlarged interesting to the general reader.

You put the Malthusian great truth of the ``Struggle for existence'' very forcibly—

To give one infinitely little criticism; I demur to your saying—p. 17. that animals are governed only by selfish motives.— look at the maternal instincts & still more at the social instincts. How unselfish is a Dog! At p. 18, ought not conscience as well as ``the far seeing reasoning nature'' to be introduced? To me it seems as clear that we have a conscience as that the lower animals have a social instinct: indeed I believe they are nearly the same— But these are mere trifles.

With my best thanks & with my hopes that you may produce a larger work on the same subject—

I remain. | My dear Sir. | Yours very faithfully | Charles Darwin.