[The following letter refers to the newly published "Man's Place in
Nature." Miss H. Darwin had suggested a couple of corrections:—]
Jermyn Street, February 25, 1863.
My dear Darwin,
Please to say to Miss Henrietta Minos Rhadamanthus Darwin that I plead guilty to the justice of both criticisms, and throw myself on the mercy of the court.
As extenuating circumstances with respect to indictment Number 1, see prefatory notice. Extenuating circumstance Number 2—that I picked up "Atavism" in Pritchard years ago, and as it is a much more convenient word than "Hereditary transmission of variations," it slipped into equivalence in my mind, and I forgot all about the original limitation.
But if these excuses should in your judgment tend to aggravate my offences, suppress 'em like a friend. One may always hope more from a lady's tender-heartedness than from her sense of justice.
Publisher has just sent to say that I must give him any corrections for second thousand of my booklet immediately.
Why did not Miss Etty send any critical remarks on that subject by the same post? I should be most immensely obliged for them.
Ever yours faithfully,
T.H. Huxley.