My dear Lyell

Many thanks for the grand Book.—² I have literally not read a word, except the newspaper, since I have been in London, & I vowed I w^d not look at your book; but I became so curious that I broke my vow & began last night the organic part & read some & skimmed provisionally several pages.— I can see that you have given a perfectly fair history of the progress of opinion on Species; but you will perhaps think it would be strange if I did not say so, seeing what high credit you give to me.—³ I see in Table of Contents you allude to Pangenesis,⁴ which is heroic on your part, as an untried hypothesis is always dangerous ground, & quite delights me. My fear has always been that Pangenesis would be a still-born infant, over whom no one would rejoice or cry.⁵

I shall be intensely curious to read your Chapt^r. on Domestication & even more so on man.—⁶

With most hearty thanks | Ever yours | C. Darwin