746 THE STRUCTURE OF EVOLUTIONARY THEORY
(1859, p. 310): "We see this in the plainest manner by the fact that all the most
eminent paleontologists, namely Cuvier, Agassiz, Barrande, Falconer, E. Forbes,
etc. ... have unanimously, often vehemently, maintained the immutability of
species."
Darwin sent Falconer a copy of the first edition of the Origin of Species,
preceded by the following note (letter of November 11, 1859): "Lord, how savage
you will be, if you read it, and how you will long to crucify me alive! I fear it will
produce no other effect on you; but if it should stagger you in ever so slight a
degree, in this case, I am fully convinced that you will become, year after year, less
fixed in your belief in the immutability of species. With this audacious and
presumptuous conviction, I remain, my dear Falconer, Yours most truly, Charles
Darwin." (Several years before, Darwin had chosen Falconer as one of the very
few scientists to whom he confided his beliefs about evolution. Falconer had not,
to say the least, reacted positively. In a letter to Hooker on October 13, 1858,
Darwin had written of Falconer's jocular, but entirely serious, response: "... dear
old Falconer, who some few years ago once told me that I should do more harm
than any ten other naturalists would do good, [and] that I had half-spoiled you
already!")
Falconer wrote to Darwin on June 23, 1861, expressing his great respect (and
that of so many others) for the Origin, though not his agreement: "My dear
Darwin, I have been rambling through the north of Italy, and Germany lately.
Everywhere have I heard your views and your admirable essay canvassed—the
views of course often dissented from, according to the special bias of the
speaker—but the work, its honesty of purpose, grandeur of conception, felicity of
illustration, and courageous exposition, always referred to in terms of the highest
admiration. And among your warmest friends no one rejoiced more heartily in the
just appreciation of Charles Darwin than did, Yours very truly, H. Falconer."
Darwin, greatly relieved, replied the next day: "I shall keep your note amongst a
very few precious letters. Your kindness has quite touched me."
Hugh Falconer did reassess his worldview, and did accept the principle of
evolution (though not causality by natural selection)—but only within the context
of the one overarching phenomenon that so strongly governed the nature of the
fossil record according to his extensive and meticulous observations: the longterm
stability of fossil species, even through major environmental changes. Falconer
published his reassessment in an 1863 monograph entitled: "On the American
fossil elephant of the regions bordering the Gulf of Mexico (E. columbi, Falc.);
with general observations on the living and extinct species." But he first sent a
copy of the manuscript to Darwin (on September 24,1862), in eager anticipation of
Darwin's reaction to his new views. In the first paragraph of his letter, Falconer
reemphasized the stability of species through great climatic changes, arguing that
any evolutionary account must deal with this primary fact of paleontology:
Do not be frightened at the enclosure. I wish to set myself right by you
before I go to press. I am bringing out a heavy memoir on elephants—an
omnium gatherum affair, with observations on the fossil and recent species.