Darwin).) I lately read a paper of yours on Chambers' book, and
was interested by it. I really believe the facts of the order described
by Chambers, in S. America, which I have described in my Geolog. volume.
This leads me to ask you (as I cannot doubt that you will have much
geological weight in N. America) to look to a discussion at page 135
in that volume on the importance of subsidence to the formation of
deposits, which are to last to a distant age. This view strikes me as of
some importance.

When I meet a very good-natured man I have that degree of badness of
disposition in me that I always endeavour to take advantage of him;
therefore I am going to mention some desiderata, which if you can supply
I shall be very grateful, but if not no answer will be required.

Thank you for your "Conspectus Crust.," but I am sorry to say I am not
worthy of it, though I have always thought the Crustacea a beautiful
subject. (561/5. "Conspectus Crustaceorum in orbis terrarum
circumnavigatione, C. Wilkes duce, collectorum." Cambridge (U.S.A.),
1847.)

LETTER 562. TO C. LYELL. [Down, March 9th, 1850.]

I am uncommonly much obliged to you for your address, which I had not
expected to see so soon, and which I have read with great interest.
(562/1. Anniversary Address of the President, "Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc."
Volume VI., page 32, 1850.) I do not know whether you spent much time
over it, but it strikes me as extra well arranged and written--done
in the most artistic manner, to use an expression which I particularly
hate. Though I am necessarily pretty well familiar with your ideas from
your conversation and books, yet the whole had an original freshness
to me. I am glad that you broke through the routine of the President's
addresses, but I should be sorry if others did. Your criticisms on
Murchison were to me, and I think would be to many, particularly
acceptable. (562/2. In a paper "On the Geological Structure of the Alps,
etc." ("Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume V., page 157, 1849) Murchison
expressed his belief that the apparent inversion of certain Tertiary
strata along the flanks of the Alps afforded "a clear demonstration of
a sudden operation or catastrophe." It is this view of paroxysmal energy
that Lyell criticises in the address.) Capital, that metaphor of the
clock. (562/3. "In a word, the movement of the inorganic world is
obvious and palpable, and might be likened to the minute-hand of
a clock, the progress of whi