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161 DARWIN (CHARLES)

A.L.s., 4pp., 8vo., Down, 21 March, [1850], to S. P. Woodward, concerning the writer's researches into the Cirripedia (his monograph on which was published in the following year), etc.

... The facts you state (& a few specimens seen by me) appear to me to render d'Orbigny's view, a priori, so improbable, that I hope a very short inspection will suffice for me.-I am far from anxious to drag anything into Cirripedia; with my small powers of work the order is now enough & too much for me ...

162 DARWIN (CHARLES)

A.L.S., 2pp., 8vo., Down, 3 June, [1851], to S. P. Woodward, concerning his correspondent's recently-published "Manual of the Mollusca" and some questions on the subject which he is most anxious to ask

I have just finished studying with all the attention of which I am capable, your Book. And I, for one, am deeply indebted to you for its publication, as I have not derived for years so much solid instruction & interest, from any other book ...

163 DARWIN (CHARLES)

A.L.s., 3 pp., 8vo., Down, 15 May, [1856], to S. P. Woodward, returning thanks for the Supplement to his correspondent's "Manual of the Mollusca," eloquently praising the book and Woodward's labours in the cause of science, tear at foot of third page (not affecting text)

... What an amount of labour is condensed in your little volume! & how marvellously cheap.—I fully believe & hope that you will reap the only reward worth having, the consciousness that you have done good service to the cause of Science.

165 DARWIN (CHARLES)

A.L.S., 3pp., 8vo., Down, 18 July, 1856, to S. P. Woodward, DECLARING HIS OWN HERETICAL BELIEF IN THE VARIABILITY OF SPECIES

... I am growing as bad as the worst about species, & hardly have a vestige of belief in the permanence of species left in me, & this confession will make you think very lightly of me;—but I cannot help it,—such has become my honest conviction,—though the difficulties & arguments against such heresy are certainly most weighty.

166 DARWIN (CHARLES)

FINE A.L.S.

7pp., 8vo., Down, 6 March, 1860, to S. P. Woodward, ENTIRELY CONCERNING THE WRITER'S RECENTLY-PUBLISHED "ORIGIN OF SPECIES"

... The fair way to view the argument of my Book, I think, is to look at natural Selection as a mere hypothesis (though rendered in some degree probable by the analogy of method of production [of omitted] domestic races; & by what we know of the struggle for existence) & then to judge whether this mere hypothesis explains a large body of facts . . . All turns on whether the above classes of facts seem to you satisfactorily explained or not.-The difficulties are great ; but they concern the "imperfection of the geological record"—"means of distribution" & "possibility of transitions of organs."—And on these classes of facts we are confessedly ignorant, & we do not know how ignorant.—I simply believe that we are FAR more ignorant than anyone supposed ... I shd. very much like to stagger you,-to pervert you or any good man, ought & must require months of self-reflection…

It may appear a vain & silly thing to say, but I believe my Book must be read twice carefully to be fully understood—you will perhaps think it by no means worth the labour.