What you say exactly and fully expresses my feelings--viz., that it is a relief to have some feasible explanation of the various facts, which can be given up as soon as any better hypothesis is found.

It has certainly been an immense relief to my mind; for I have been stumbling over the subject for years, dimly seeing that some relation existed between the various classes of facts.

I now hear from H.Spencer that his views quoted in my footnote refer to something quite distinct, as you seem to have perceived.

(219/1.

This letter is published in "Life and Letters," III., page 79.) LETTER 220.