ite a
little book for Murray on Orchids (527/3. "On the Various Contrivances
by which Orchids are Fertilised by Insects," London, 1862.), and to-day
I hate them worse than everything. So farewell, in a sweet frame of
mind.

LETTER 528. TO C. LYELL. Down, October 14th [1861].

I return Jamieson's capital letter. I have no comments, except to say
that he has removed all my difficulties, and that now and for evermore I
give up and abominate Glen Roy and all its belongings. It certainly is
a splendid case, and wonderful monument of the old Ice-period. You ought
to give a woodcut. How many have blundered over those horrid shelves!

That was a capital paper by Jamieson in the last "Geol. Journal."
(528/1. "On the Drift and Rolled Gravel of the North of Scotland,"
"Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XVI., page 347, 1860.) I was never
before fully convinced of the land glacialisation of Scotland before,
though Chambers tried hard to convince me.

I must say I differ rather about Ramsay's paper; perhaps he pushes it
too far. (528/2. "On the Glacial Origin of Certain Lakes, etc." "Quart.
Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XVIII., page 185. See Letter 503.) It struck
me the more from remembering some years ago marvelling what could be
the meaning of such a multitude of lakes in Friesland and other northern
districts. Ramsay wrote to me, and I suggested that he ought to compare
mountainous tropical regions with northern regions. I could not remember
many lakes in any mountainous tropical country. When Tyndall talks of
every valley in Switzerland being formed by glaciers, he seems to forget
there are valleys in the tropics; and it is monstrous, in my opinion,
the accounting for the Glacial period in the Alps by greater height
of mountains, and their lessened height, if I understand, by glacial
erosion. "Ne sutor ultra crepidam," I think, applies in this case to
him. I am hard at work on "Variation under Domestication." (528/3.
Published 1868.)

P.S.--I am rather overwhelmed with letters at present, and it has just
occurred to me that perhaps you will forward my note to Mr. Jamieson; as
it will show that I entirely yield. I do believe every word in my Glen
Roy paper is false.

LETTER 529. TO C. LYELL. Down, October 20th [1861].

Notwithstanding the orchids, I have been very glad to see Jamieson's
letter; no doubt, as he says, certainty will soon be reached.

With respect to the minor points of Glen Roy, I cannot feel easy with
a m