Darwin wrote in his journals what he saw - but when he finally put pen to paper, out of deference to his hero Lyell, he left out anything that conflicted with the uniformitarian theory. Besides, Darwin needed the Lyell timeframes for his own evolutioniary theory.
That’s all very understandable given the times they lived in - maybe- but neither hold water now. It’s the gospel of Darwin and Lyell that is still being taught I think.
The science is never settled, and anyone who tries to tell you that it is should go and stand in the corner with Al Gore.
So Darwin and Lyell were both liars; Darwin it seems being the greater liar since his final product contradicted his own findings. Pretty amazing really, but I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. All in the cause of what???