CHARLES DARWIN TO C. LYELL.

Ilkley Wells, Yorkshire,

November 23 [1859].
My dear Lyell,
You seemed to have worked admirably on the species question; there could not have
been a better plan than reading up on the opposite side. I rejoice profoundly that you
intend admitting the doctrine of modification in your new edition (It appears from Sir
Charles Lyell's published letters that he intended to admit the doctrine of evolution in a
new edition of the 'Manual,' but this was not published till 1865. He was, however, at
work on the 'Antiquity of Man' in 1860, and had already determined to discuss the
'Origin' at the end of the book.); nothing, I am convinced, could be more important for
its success. I honour you most sincerely. To have maintained in the position of a master,
one side of a question for thirty years, and then deliberately give it up, is a fact to which
I much doubt whether the records of science offer a parallel. For myself, also, I rejoice
profoundly; for, thinking of so many cases of men pursuing an illusion for years, often
and often a cold shudder has run through me, and I have asked myself whether I
may not have devoted my life to a phantasy. Now I look at it as morally impossible
that investigators of truth, like you and Hooker, can be wholly wrong, and therefore I
rest in peace. Thank you for criticisms, which, if there be a second edition, I will attend
to. I have been thinking that if I am much execrated as an atheist, etc., whether the
admission of the doctrine of natural selection could injure your works; but I hope and
think not, for as far as I can remember, the virulence of bigotry is expended on the first
offender, and those who adopt his views are only pitied as deluded, by the wise and
cheerful bigots.
I cannot help thinking that you overrate the importance of the multiple origin of dogs.
The only difference is, that in the case of single origins, all difference of the races has
originated since man domesticated the species. In the case of multiple origins part of the
difference was produced under natural conditions. I should INFINITELY prefer the
theory of single origin in all cases, if facts would permit its reception. But there seems to
me some a priori improbability (seeing how fond savages are of taming animals), that
throughout all times, and throughout all the world, that man should have domesticated
one single species alone, of the widely distributed genus Canis. Besides this, the close
resemblance of at least three kinds of American domestic dogs to wild species still
inhabiting the countries where they are now domesticated, seem to almost compel
admission that more than one wild Canis has been domesticated by man.
I thank you cordially for all the generous zeal and interest you have shown about my
book, and I remain, my dear Lyell,
Your affectionate friend and disciple,
CHARLES DARWIN.