with the letter from Lyell that your extinguished
theologians lying about the cradle of each new science, etc., etc., is
splendid. (566/2. "Darwiniana, Collected Essays," Volume II., page 52.)

LETTER 567. TO T.H. HUXLEY. May 10th [1862 or later].

I have been in London, which has prevented my writing sooner. I am very
sorry to hear that you have been ill: if influenza, I can believe in any
degree of prostration of strength; if from over-work, for God's sake do
not be rash and foolish. You ask for criticisms; I have none to give,
only impressions. I fully agree with your "skimming-of-pot theory," and
very well you have put it. With respect [to] contemporaneity I nearly
agree with you, and if you will look to the d--d book, 3rd edition, page
349 you will find nearly similar remarks. (567/1. "When the marine forms
are spoken of as having changed simultaneously throughout the world, it
must not be supposed that this expression relates to the same year, or
to the same century, or even that it has a very strict geological sense;
for if all the marine animals now living in Europe, and all those that
lived in Europe during the Pleistocene period (a very remote period as
measured by years, including the whole Glacial epoch), were compared
with those now existing in South America or in Australia, the most
skilful naturalist would hardly be able to say whether the present or
the Pleistocene inhabitants of Europe resembled most closely those of
the Southern hemisphere." "Origin," Edition VI., page 298. The passage
in Edition III., page 350, is substantially the same.) But at page 22
of your Address, in my opinion you put your ideas too far. (567/2.
Anniversary Address to the Geological Society of London ("Quart. Journ.
Geol. Soc." Volume XVIII., page xl, 1862). As an illustration of the
misleading use of the term "contemporaneous" as employed by geologists,
Huxley gives the following illustration: "Now suppose that, a million
or two of years hence, when Britain has made another dip beneath the sea
and has come up again, some geologist applies this doctrine [i.e.,
the doctrine of the Contemporaneity of the European and of the North
American Silurians: proof of contemporaneity is considered to be
established by the occurrence of 60 per cent. of species in common], in
comparing the strata laid bare by the upheaval of the bottom, say, of
St. George's Channel with what may then remain of the Suffolk Crag.
Reasoning in the same way, h