Dear Sir

I have received and read your volume & am much obliged for your present.² The whole strikes me as a wonderfully clear & able discussion, & I was much interested by it to the last page. It is impossible that any account of my views could be fairer, or as far as space permitted fuller, than that which you have given. The way in which you repeatedly mention my name is most gratifying to me. When I finished the second part, I thought that you had stated the case so favourably that you would make more converts on my side than on your own side. On reading the subsequent parts I had to change my sanguine view. In these latter parts many of your strictures are severe enough, but all are given with perfect courtesy & fairness.³ I can truly say I would rather be criticised by you in this manner than praised by many others. I agree with some of your criticisms, but differ entirely from the remainder; but I will not trouble you with any remarks. I may, however, say that you must have been deceived by the french translation as you infer that I believe that the Parus & the Nuthatch (or Sitta) are related by direct filiation: I wished only to show by an imaginary illustration how either instincts or structure might first change.⁴ If you had seen Canis magellanicus alive, you would have perceived how foxlike its appearance is, or if you had heard its voice, I think, you would never have hazarded the idea that it was a domestic dog run wild;⁵ but this does not much concern me. It is curious how nationality influences opinion: a week hardly passes without my hearing of some naturalist in Germany who supports my views, & often puts an exaggerated value on my works; whilst in France I have not heard of a single zoologist except M. Gaudry⁶ (and he only partially) who supports my views. But I must have a good many readers, as my books are translated, & I must hope, notwithstanding your strictures, that I may influence some embryo naturalists in France.

You frequently speak of my good faith, & no compliment can be more delightful to me, but I may return you the compliment with interest for every word which you write bears the stamp of your cordial love for the truth.

Believe me, dear Sir | with sincere respect | yours very faithfully | Charles Darwin

P.S. I am much obliged to you for sending me your lectures in the “Revue des Cours etc” for they have been very useful to me.—⁷

I have also to thank you for your kindness of my son George in Paris.⁸