Few scientists can rival Charles Darwin鈥檚 impact on the way we view the world, yet in a letter that has just surfaced he elaborates his ideas in characteristically modest terms.
The six-page letter to Reverend William Denton, dated 15 October 1860, shows Darwin seemingly buoyant: 鈥淚 am very far from being surprised at anyone not accepting my conclusions on the origin of species.鈥� He illustrates how his theory works, giving examples of natural variation and artificial selection in horses, pigs and cats, and goes on: 鈥淭hose naturalists who go a little way with me, the more they reflect on the subject the further they go.鈥�
Written in the aftermath of On the Origin of Species, the letter provides an insight into how Darwin鈥檚 ideas were received, says Gabriel Heaton, a manuscript specialist at Sotheby鈥檚 in London, which is auctioning the letter. It is expected to fetch 拢20,000 to 拢30,000.
Advertisement
