To F. W. Harmer 29 August 1872
Down, | Beckenham, Kent.
Augt. 29th. ’72
Dear Sir,
I am sorry that you have become involved in a troublesome controversy on my part. The sentence given by Mr Lyon in inverted commas is an invention, & it is a most unjustifiable proceeding on his part. He might of course have given any interpretation which he pleased of my words, but he had no right to put the words in inverted commas.1 I may add that I have given in the later & more especially in the 6th. Ed. of the Origin many cases showing how Common generalised forms, (that is forms partaking of the characters of existing distinct groups) are in all the more ancient formations.2 I have always been curious to hear who wrote Homo v. Darwin. Mr. Lyon can hardly have the disposition of a gentleman, for in one place he states that I speak the truth solely because I should be found out if I lied.—3
I hope that you will soon be able to bring your controversy to an end and I remain in haste | Dear Sir, | Yours faithfully | Ch. Darwin
Footnotes
Bibliography
Lyon, William Penman. [1871.] Homo versus Darwin: a judicial examination of statements recently published by Mr. Darwin regarding ‘The descent of man.’ London: Hamilton, Adams, and Co.
Origin 5th ed.: On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. 5th edition, with additions and corrections. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1869.
Origin 6th ed.: The origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. 6th edition, with additions and corrections. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872.
Summary
Explains that William Penman Lyon has misquoted CD in Lyon [1871].
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-8490F
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Frederic William Harmer
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- Ipswich Museum (IPSMG: R.1924-134)
- Physical description
- LS(A) 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8490F,” accessed on 20 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8490F.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 20