To H. M. Westropp 26 May 1881
Down | Beckenham
May 26. 1881
Dear Sir.
My time is so fully occupied that I cannot spare the time to discuss your essay.1 The comparison of the stages of the life of an individual animal with those of a species or whole nation seems to me far fetched.
I do not believe that there has been progress in the case of all organisms; on the contrary much degradation during many generations, as with parasitic crustaceans and probably with parasitic worms.2
The belief in much degradation is spreading amongst many naturalists, as may be seen in Ray Lankesters recent (little?) book.3 On the other hand, I know of no evidence opposed to the belief in continuous progress in many lines of descent.
I am sorry that my note must be so short, and remain | yours faithfully | Ch Darwin
Footnotes
Bibliography
Lankester, Edwin Ray. 1880. Degeneration. A chapter in Darwinism. London: Macmillian and Co.
Living Cirripedia (1854): A monograph of the sub-class Cirripedia, with figures of all the species. The Balanidæ (or sessile cirripedes); the Verrucidæ, etc. By Charles Darwin. London: Ray Society. 1854.
Westropp, Hodder Michael. 1881. The cycle of development: or, essays in illustration of the order, uniformity, and invariable sequence in the cyclical development of man. London: George Bell & Sons.
Summary
Cannot discuss HMW’s essay. Does not believe there has been progress in all organisms. There has been much degradation, as in parasites.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-13175
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Hodder Michael Westropp
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- DAR 148: 351
- Physical description
- C 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 13175,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-13175.xml