A Difficulty in Weismannism

Abstract

THE contributions of Mr. Trow and Dr. Poulton to this discussion render necessary an explanation that should, perhaps, have accompanied my first letter. After rough-drafting this, I felt misgivings lest I might have misconceived Weismann's meaning, and set up a man of straw to knock down. Accordingly, I wrote to Prof Weismann to ask if I rightly understood his meaning, explaining my object in doing so; and he answered my queries with great kindness, courtesy, and fulness. As I wrote back to him, I then thought it better, relieved from my misgivings, to state the point without reference to his letter. But Mr. Trow and Dr. Poulton have both blamed my use of the word shuffling, and appear to think that my hypothesis A is a purely imaginary conception of the straw man order. I hope, therefore, I shall not be accused of having wilfully kept a trump card up my sleeve if I now quote the two essential passages of Prof. Weismann's letter, which were written in definition of the points at issue.