My dear Huxley

Your letter has been forwarded to me from Down.¹

Like a good Catholic, who has received extreme unction, I can now sing “nunc dimittis”.² I should have been more than contented with one quarter of what you have said. Exactly fifteen months ago, when I put pen to paper for this volume, I had awful misgivings, & thought perhaps I had deluded myself like so many have done; & I then fixed in my mind three judges, on whose decision I determined mentally to abide. The judges were Lyell, Hooker & yourself. It was this which made me so excessively anxious for your verdict. I am now contented, & can sing my nunc dimittis. What a joke it will be if I pat you on back when you attack some immoveable creationist!³

You have most cleverly hit on one point, which has greatly troubled me; if, as I must think external conditions produce little direct effect, what the devil determines each particular variation. What makes a tuft of feathers come on a Cock’s head; or moss on a moss-rose?— I shall much like to talk over this with you.—

I daresay you will kindly let me hear about Geoffroy DE St. Hilaire.—⁴

My dear Huxley I thank you cordially for your letter. Yours most sincerely | C. Darwin

Hereafter I shall be particularly curious to hear what you think of my explanation of Embryological similarity.— On classification I fear we shall split.⁵ Did you perceive argumentum ad hominem Huxley. about Kangaroo & Bear⁶