There is nothing in the history of science more delightful or more
noble than the story of the relations between yourself and Mr.
Darwin, as told in the correspondence now so fully published--the
story of a generous rivalry in which each discoverer strives to
exalt the claims of the other. We know that Mr. Darwin wrote
(April 6th, 1859): "You cannot tell how much I admire your spirit
in the manner in which you have taken all that was done about
publishing our papers. I had actually written a letter to you
stating that I would not publish anything before you had
published." Then came the letters of Hooker and Lyell, leading to
the publication of the joint papers which they communicated.
You, on your side, always gave the credit to him, and
underestimated your own position as the co-discoverer. I need only
refer to your calling your great exposition of the joint theory
"Darwinism," as the typical example of your generous emphasising
of the claims of your illustrious fellow-worker.
It was a remarkable and momentous coincidence that both you and he
should have independently arrived at the idea of Natural Selection
after reading Malthus's book, and a most happy inspiration that
you should have selected Mr.
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