My dear Lyell

I send Bronn’s letter with translation of latter half made for me by my nephew.¹

I send also letters by Asa Gray & Bunbury for the chance of your liking to see them.² I had not intended to have sent them, as it seems so boastful to send them,—not that I have a shred of modesty in me.— I have answered Bunbury that in his sense the undulatory theory of Light is very far from a vera causa.³ Bunbury’s letter seems to me uncommonly well written. There is one sentence in A. Gray’s (if you read it) which you might misunderstand; he put my name before Forbes on Glacial distribution; & I told him in answer that I had written out the notion 3 or 4 years before Forbes, but that I had no sort of claim to notice on this head, as he published first, & that in the Origin I sh^d. of course take no notice of this.—⁴

In few days I will send you 1^st part of Asa Grays excellent Review⁵ & notice by Bronn in Jahr-buch fur Mineralogie.—⁶

It is good job that I have heard today that Bronn will superintend the German Translation.—⁷ All these letters &c may be left at Erasmus’ marked not to be forwarded, as I shall be up in fortnight.—⁸

I think it was a great pity that Huxley wasted so much time in Lecture on preliminary remarks:⁹ he hardly gave idea of my notions; but his Lecture seemed to me very fine & very bold. I have remonstrated (& he agrees) against impression that he would leave that sterility was universal & infallible criterion of species.—¹⁰

You will, I am sure, make a grand discussion on Man. I am so glad to hear that you & Lady Lyell will come here.—¹¹ Pray fix your own time & if it does not suit us we w^d. say so. We could then discuss man well

Ever yours | C. Darwin

How much I owe to you & Hooker; I do not suppose I sh^d. hardly ever have published, had it not been for you