elf or given most trouble is, perhaps quite falsely,
thought newest. The elevation of the land is perhaps more carefully
treated than any other subject, but it cannot, of course, be called new.
I have made out a sort of index, which will not take you a couple of
minutes to skim over, and then you will perhaps judge what seems newest.
The summary at the end of the book would also serve same purpose.

I do not know where E. de B. [Elie de Beaumont] has lately put forth
on the recent elevation of the Cordillera. He "rapported" favourably
on d'Orbigny, who in late times fires off a most Royal salute; every
volcano bursting forth in the Andes at the same time with their
elevation, the debacle thus caused depositing all the Pampean mud and
all the Patagonian shingle! Is not this making Geology nice and simple
for beginners?

We have been very sorry to hear of Bunbury's severe illness; I believe
the measles are often dangerous to grown-up people. I am very glad that
your last account was so much better.

I am astonished that you should have had the courage to go right through
my book. It is quite obvious that most geologists find it far easier to
write than to read a book.

Chapter I. and II.--Elevation of the land: equability on E. coast as
shown by terraces, page 19; length on W. coast, page 53; height at
Valparaiso, page 32; number of periods of rest at Coquimbo, page 49;
elevation within Human period near Lima greater than elsewhere observed;
the discussion (page 41) on non-horizontality of terraces perhaps one of
newest features--on formation of terraces rather newish.

Chapter III., page 65.--Argument of horizontal elevation of Cordillera
I believe new. I think the connection (page 54) between earthquake
[shocks] and insensible rising important.

Chapter IV.--The strangeness of the (Eocene) mammifers, co-existing with
recent shells.

Chapter V.--Curious pumiceous infusorial mudstone (page 118) of
Patagonia; climate of old Tertiary period, page 134. The subject which
has been most fertile in my mind is the discussion from page 135 to end
of chapter on the accumulation of fossiliferous deposits. (556/3. The
last section of Chapter V. treats of "the Absence of extensive modern
Conchiferous Deposits in South America; and on the contemporaneousness
of the older Tertiary Deposits at distant points being due to
contemporaneous movements of subsidence." Darwin expresses the view that
"the earth's surface oscillates up an