CHAPTER1。XIII。
THEWRITINGOFTHE’ORIGINOFSPECIES。’
JUNE18，1858，TONOVEMBER，1859。
[Thelettersgiveninthepresentchaptertelltheirstorywithsufficientclearness，andneedbutafewwordsofexplanation。Mr。Wallace’sEssay，referredtointhefirstletter，borethesub—title，’OntheTendencyofVarietiestodepartindefinitelyfromtheOriginalType，’waspublishedintheLinneanSociety’sJournal（1858，volumeiii。page53）aspartofthejointpaperof\"Messrs。C。DarwinandA。Wallace，\"ofwhichthefulltitlewas’OntheTendencyofSpeciestoformVarieties;andonthePerpetuationofVarietiesandSpeciesbyNaturalMeansofSelection。’
Myfather’scontributiontothepaperconsistedof（1）Extractsfromthesketchof1844;（2）partofaletteraddressedtoDrAsaGray，datedSeptember5，1857，andwhichisgivenabove。Thepaperwas\"communicated\"
totheSocietybySirCharlesLyellandSirJosephHooker，inwhoseprefatoryletter，aclearaccountofthecircumstancesofthecaseisgiven。
ReferringtoMr。Wallace’sEssay，theywrote:
\"SohighlydidMr。Darwinappreciatethevalueoftheviewsthereinsetforth，thatheproposed，inalettertoSirCharlesLyell，toobtainMr。
Wallace’sconsenttoallowtheEssaytobepublishedassoonaspossible。
Ofthisstepwehighlyapproved，providedMr。Darwindidnotwithholdfromthepublic，ashewasstronglyinclinedtodo（infavourofMr。Wallace），thememoirwhichhehadhimselfwrittenonthesamesubject，andwhich，asbeforestated，oneofushadperusedin1844，andthecontentsofwhichwehadbothofusbeenprivytoformanyyears。OnrepresentingthistoMr。
Darwin，hegaveuspermissiontomakewhatusewethoughtproperofhismemoir，etc。;andinadoptingourpresentcourse，ofpresentingittotheLinneanSociety，wehaveexplainedtohimthatwearenotsolelyconsideringtherelativeclaimstopriorityofhimselfandhisfriend，buttheinterestsofsciencegenerally。\"]
LETTERS。
CHARLESDARWINTOC。LYELL。
Down，18th[June1858]。
MydearLyell，SomeyearorsoagoyourecommendedmetoreadapaperbyWallaceinthe’Annals’（’AnnalsandMagazineofNaturalHistory’，1855。），whichhadinterestedyou，and，asIwaswritingtohim，Iknewthiswouldpleasehimmuch，soItoldhim。Hehasto—daysentmetheenclosed，andaskedmetoforwardittoyou。Itseemstomewellworthreading。Yourwordshavecometruewithavengeance——thatIshouldbeforestalled。Yousaidthis，whenIexplainedtoyouhereverybrieflymyviewsof’NaturalSelection’
dependingonthestruggleforexistence。Ineversawamorestrikingcoincidence;ifWallacehadmyMS。sketchwrittenoutin1842，hecouldnothavemadeabettershortabstract！Evenhistermsnowstandasheadsofmychapters。PleasereturnmetheMS。，whichhedoesnotsayhewishesmetopublish，butIshallofcourse，atoncewriteandoffertosendtoanyjournal。Soallmyoriginality，whateveritmayamountto，willbesmashed，thoughmybook，ifitwilleverhaveanyvalue，willnotbedeteriorated;asallthelabourconsistsintheapplicationofthetheory。
IhopeyouwillapproveofWallace’ssketch，thatImaytellhimwhatyousay。
MydearLyell，yoursmosttruly，C。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOC。LYELL。
Down，Friday[June25，1858]。
MydearLyell，Iamverysorrytotroubleyou，busyasyouare，insomerelyapersonalanaffair;butifyouwillgivemeyourdeliberateopinion，youwilldomeasgreataserviceasevermandid，forIhaveentireconfidenceinyourjudgmentandhonour……
ThereisnothinginWallace’ssketchwhichisnotwrittenoutmuchfullerinmysketch，copiedoutin1844，andreadbyHookersomedozenyearsago。
AboutayearagoIsentashortsketch，ofwhichIhaveacopy，ofmyviews（owingtocorrespondenceonseveralpoints）toAsaGray，sothatIcouldmosttrulysayandprovethatItakenothingfromWallace。Ishouldbeextremelygladnowtopublishasketchofmygeneralviewsinaboutadozenpagesorso;butIcannotpersuademyselfthatIcandosohonourably。
Wallacesaysnothingaboutpublication，andIenclosehisletter。ButasI
hadnotintendedtopublishanysketch，canIdosohonourably，becauseWallacehassentmeanoutlineofhisdoctrine？Iwouldfarratherburnmywholebook，thanthatheoranyothermanshouldthinkthatIhadbehavedinapaltryspirit。Doyounotthinkhishavingsentmethissketchtiesmyhands？……IfIcouldhonourablypublish，IwouldstatethatIwasinducednowtopublishasketch（andIshouldbeverygladtobepermittedtosay，tofollowyouradvicelongagogiven）fromWallacehavingsentmeanoutlineofmygeneralconclusions。Wedifferonly，[in]thatIwasledtomyviewsfromwhatartificialselectionhasdonefordomesticanimals。I
wouldsendWallaceacopyofmylettertoAsaGray，toshowhimthatIhadnotstolenhisdoctrine。ButIcannottellwhethertopublishnowwouldnotbebaseandpaltry。Thiswasmyfirstimpression，andIshouldhavecertainlyactedonithaditnotbeenforyourletter。
Thisisatrumperyaffairtotroubleyouwith，butyoucannottellhowmuchobligedIshouldbeforyouradvice。
Bytheway，wouldyouobjecttosendthisandyouranswertoHookertobeforwardedtome，forthenIshallhavetheopinionofmytwobestandkindestfriends。Thisletterismiserablywritten，andIwriteitnow，thatImayforatimebanishthewholesubject;andIamwornoutwithmusing……
Mygooddearfriendforgiveme。Thisisatrumperyletter，influencedbytrumperyfeelings。
Yoursmosttruly，C。DARWIN。
IwillnevertroubleyouorHookeronthesubjectagain。
CHARLESDARWINTOC。LYELL。
Down，26th[June，1858]。
MydearLyell，ForgivemeforaddingaP。S。tomakethecaseasstrongaspossibleagainstmyself。
Wallacemightsay，\"Youdidnotintendpublishinganabstractofyourviewstillyoureceivedmycommunication。Isitfairtotakeadvantageofmyhavingfreely，thoughunasked，communicatedtoyoumyideas，andthuspreventmeforestallingyou？\"TheadvantagewhichIshouldtakebeingthatIaminducedtopublishfromprivatelyknowingthatWallaceisinthefield。ItseemshardonmethatIshouldbethuscompelledtolosemypriorityofmanyyears’standing，butIcannotfeelatallsurethatthisaltersthejusticeofthecase。Firstimpressionsaregenerallyright，andIatfirstthoughtitwouldbedishonourableinmenowtopublish。
Yoursmosttruly，C。DARWIN。
P。S。——Ihavealwaysthoughtyouwouldmakeafirst—rateLordChancellor;
andInowappealtoyouasaLordChancellor。
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
Down，Tuesday[June29，1858]……Ihavereceivedyourletters。Icannotthinknow（Sosoonafterthedeath，fromscarletfever，ofhisinfantchild。）onthesubject，butsoonwill。ButIcanseethatyouhaveactedwithmorekindness，andsohasLyell，eventhanIcouldhaveexpectedfromyouboth，mostkindasyouare。
IcaneasilygetmylettertoAsaGraycopied，butitistooshort……Godblessyou。Youshallhearsoon，assoonasIcanthink。
Yoursaffectionately，C。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
Tuesdaynight[June29，1858]。
MydearHooker，Ihavejustreadyourletter，andseeyouwantthepapersatonce。Iamquiteprostrated，andcandonothing，butIsendWallace，andtheabstract（\"Abstract\"ishereusedinthesenseof\"extract;\"inthissensealsoitoccursinthe’LinneanJournal，’wherethesourcesofmyfather’spaperaredescribed。）ofmylettertoAsaGray，whichgivesmostimperfectlyonlythemeansofchange，anddoesnottouchonreasonsforbelievingthatspeciesdochange。Idaresayallistoolate。Ihardlycareaboutit。Butyouaretoogeneroustosacrificesomuchtimeandkindness。Itismostgenerous，mostkind。Isendmysketchof1844solelythatyoumayseebyyourownhandwritingthatyoudidreadit。Ireallycannotbeartolookatit。Donotwastemuchtime。Itismiserableinmetocareatallaboutpriority。
Thetableofcontentswillshowwhatitis。
Iwouldmakeasimilar，butshorterandmoreaccuratesketchforthe’LinneanJournal。’
Iwilldoanything。Godblessyou，mydearkindfriend。
Icanwritenomore。IsendthisbymyservanttoKew。
Yours，C。DARWIN。
[ThefollowingletteristhatalreadyreferredtoasformingpartofthejointpaperpublishedintheLinneanSociety’s’Journal，’1858]:——
CHARLESDARWINTOASAGRAY。
Down，September5th[1857]。（ThedateisgivenasOctoberinthe’LinneanJournal。’Theextractswereprintedfromaduplicateundatedcopyinmyfather’spossession，onwhichhehadwritten，\"ThiswassenttoAsaGray8
or9monthsago，IthinkOctober1857。\"）
MydearGray，IforgettheexactwordswhichIusedinmyformerletter，butIdaresayI
saidthatIthoughtyouwouldutterlydespisemewhenItoldyouwhatviewsIhadarrivedat，whichIdidbecauseIthoughtIwasboundasanhonestmantodoso。Ishouldhavebeenastrangemortal，seeinghowmuchIowetoyourquiteextraordinarykindness，ifinsayingthisIhadmeanttoattributetheleastbadfeelingtoyou。Permitmetotellyouthat，beforeIhadevercorrespondedwithyou，Hookerhadshownmeseveralofyourletters（notofaprivatenature），andthesegavemethewarmestfeelingofrespecttoyou;andIshouldindeedbeungratefulifyourletterstome，andallIhaveheardofyou，hadnotstronglyenhancedthisfeeling。ButI
didnotfeelintheleastsurethatwhenyouknewwhitherIwastending，thatyoumightnotthinkmesowildandfoolishinmyviews（Godknows，arrivedatslowlyenough，andIhopeconscientiously），thatyouwouldthinkmeworthnomorenoticeorassistance。Togiveoneexample:thelasttimeIsawmydearoldfriendFalconer，heattackedmemostvigorously，butquitekindly，andtoldme，\"YouwilldomoreharmthananytenNaturalistswilldogood。IcanseethatyouhavealreadyCORRUPTEDandhalf—spoiledHooker！！\"NowwhenIseesuchstrongfeelinginmyoldestfriends，youneednotwonderthatIalwaysexpectmyviewstobereceivedwithcontempt。
Butenoughandtoomuchofthis。
Ithankyoumosttrulyforthekindspiritofyourlastletter。Iagreetoeverywordinit，andthinkIgoasfarasalmostanyoneinseeingthegravedifficultiesagainstmydoctrine。WithrespecttotheextenttowhichIgo，alltheargumentsinfavourofmynotionsfallRAPIDLYaway，thegreaterthescopeofformsconsidered。Butinanimals，embryologyleadsmetoanenormousandfrightfulrange。Thefactswhichkeptmelongestscientificallyorthodoxarethoseofadaptation——thepollen—massesinasclepias——themistletoe，withitspollencarriedbyinsects，andseedbybirds——thewoodpecker，withitsfeetandtail，beakandtongue，toclimbthetreeandsecureinsects。TotalkofclimateorLamarckianhabitproducingsuchadaptationstootherorganicbeingsisfutile。ThisdifficultyIbelieveIhavesurmounted。Asyouseeminterestedinthesubject，andasitisanIMMENSEadvantagetometowritetoyouandtohear，eversobriefly，whatyouthink，Iwillenclose（copied，soastosaveyoutroubleinreading）thebriefestabstractofmynotionsonthemeansbywhichNaturemakesherspecies。WhyIthinkthatspecieshavereallychanged，dependsongeneralfactsintheaffinities，embryology，rudimentaryorgans，geologicalhistory，andgeographicaldistributionoforganicbeings。InregardtomyAbstract，youmusttakeimmenselyontrust，eachparagraphoccupyingoneortwochaptersinmybook。Youwill，perhaps，thinkitpaltryinme，whenIaskyounottomentionmydoctrine;
thereasonis，ifanyone，liketheauthorofthe’Vestiges，’weretohearofthem，hemighteasilyworkthemin，andthenIshouldhavetoquotefromaworkperhapsdespisedbynaturalists，andthiswouldgreatlyinjureanychanceofmyviewsbeingreceivedbythosealonewhoseopinionsIvalue。
[Herefollowsadiscussionon\"largegeneravarying，\"whichhasnodirectconnectionwiththeremainderoftheletter。]
I。ItiswonderfulwhattheprincipleofSelectionbyMan，thatisthepickingoutofindividualswithanydesiredquality，andbreedingfromthem，andagainpickingout，cando。Evenbreedershavebeenastonishedattheirownresults。Theycanactondifferencesinappreciabletoanuneducatedeye。SelectionhasbeenMETHODICALLYfollowedinEuropeforonlythelasthalfcentury。Butithasoccasionally，andeveninsomedegreemethodically，beenfollowedinthemostancienttimes。Theremusthavebeenalsoakindofunconsciousselectionfromthemostancienttimes，namely，inthepreservationoftheindividualanimals（withoutanythoughtoftheiroffspring）mostusefultoeachraceofmaninhisparticularcircumstances。The\"roguing，\"asnursery—mencallthedestroyingofvarieties，whichdepartfromtheirtype，isakindofselection。Iamconvincedthatintentionalandoccasionalselectionhasbeenthemainagentinmakingourdomesticraces。But，howeverthismaybe，itsgreatpowerofmodificationhasbeenindisputedlyshowninlatetimes。Selectionactsonlybytheaccumulationofveryslightorgreatervariations，causedbyexternalconditions，orbythemerefactthatingenerationthechildisnotabsolutelysimilartoitsparent。Man，bythispowerofaccumulatingvariations，adaptslivingbeingstohiswants——heMAYBESAIDtomakethewoolofonesheepgoodforcarpets，andanotherforcloth，etc。
II。Now，supposetherewasabeing，whodidnotjudgebymereexternalappearance，butcouldstudythewholeinternalorganisation——whoneverwascapricious——whoshouldgoonselectingforoneendduringmillionsofgenerations，whowillsaywhathemightnoteffect！InnaturewehavesomeSLIGHTvariations，occasionallyinallparts:andIthinkitcanbeshownthatachangeintheconditionsofexistenceisthemaincauseofthechildnotexactlyresemblingitsparents;andinnature，geologyshowsuswhatchangeshavetakenplace，andaretakingplace。Wehavealmostunlimitedtime:noonebutapracticalgeologistcanfullyappreciatethis:thinkoftheGlacialperiod，duringthewholeofwhichthesamespeciesofshellsatleasthaveexisted;theremusthavebeenduringthisperiod，millionsonmillionsofgenerations。
III。Ithinkitcanbeshownthatthereissuchanunerringpoweratwork，orNATURALSELECTION（thetitleofmybook），whichselectsexclusivelyforthegoodofeachorganicbeing。TheelderDeCandolle，W。Herbert，andLyell，havewrittenstronglyonthestruggleforlife;buteventheyhavenotwrittenstronglyenough。Reflectthateverybeing（eventheelephant）
breedsatsucharatethat，inafewyears，oratmostafewcenturiesorthousandsofyears，thesurfaceoftheearthwouldnotholdtheprogenyofanyonespecies。Ihavefoundithardconstantlytobearinmindthattheincreaseofeverysinglespeciesischeckedduringsomepartofitslife，orduringsomeshortlyrecurrentgeneration。Onlyafewofthoseannuallyborncanlivetopropagatetheirkind。Whatatriflingdifferencemustoftendeterminewhichshallsurviveandwhichperish。
IV。Nowtakethecaseofacountryundergoingsomechange;thiswilltendtocausesomeofitsinhabitantstovaryslightly;notbutwhatIbelievemostbeingsvaryatalltimesenoughforselectiontoacton。Someofitsinhabitantswillbeexterminated，andtheremainderwillbeexposedtothemutualactionofadifferentsetofinhabitants，whichIbelievetobemoreimportanttothelifeofeachbeingthanmereclimate。Consideringtheinfinitelyvariouswaysbeingshavetoobtainfoodbystrugglingwithotherbeings，toescapedangeratvarioustimesoflife，tohavetheireggsorseedsdisseminated，etc。，etc。，Icannotdoubtthatduringmillionsofgenerationsindividualsofaspecieswillbebornwithsomeslightvariationprofitabletosomepartofitseconomy;suchwillhaveabetterchanceofsurviving，propagatingthisvariation，whichagainwillbeslowlyincreasedbytheaccumulativeactionofnaturalselection;andthevarietythusformedwilleithercoexistwith，ormorecommonlywillexterminateitsparentform。Anorganicbeinglikethewoodpecker，orthemistletoe，maythuscometobeadaptedtoascoreofcontingencies;naturalselection，accumulatingthoseslightvariationsinallpartsofitsstructurewhichareinanywayusefultoit，duringanypartofitslife。
V。Multiformdifficultieswilloccurtoeveryoneonthistheory。Mostcan，Ithink，besatisfactorilyanswered。——\"Naturanonfacitsaltum\"answersomeofthemostobvious。Theslownessofthechange，andonlyaveryfewundergoingchangeatanyonetimeanswersothers。Theextremeimperfectionsofourgeologicalrecordsanswersothers。
VI。Oneotherprinciple，whichmaybecalledtheprincipleofdivergence，plays，Ibelieve，animportantpartintheoriginofspecies。Thesamespotwillsupportmorelifeifoccupiedbyverydiverseforms:weseethisinthemanygenericformsinasquareyardofturf（Ihavecountedtwentyspeciesbelongingtoeighteengenera），orintheplantsandinsects，onanylittleuniformislet，belongingtoalmostasmanygeneraandfamiliesastospecies。Wecanunderstandthiswiththehigheranimals，whosehabitswebestunderstand。Weknowthatithasbeenexperimentallyshownthataplotoflandwillyieldagreaterweight，ifcroppedwithseveralspeciesofgrasses，thanwithtwoorthreespecies。Noweverysingleorganicbeing，bypropagatingrapidly，maybesaidtobestrivingitsutmosttoincreaseinnumbers。Soitwillbewiththeoffspringofanyspeciesafterithasbrokenintovarieties，orsub—species，ortruespecies。Anditfollows，I
think，fromtheforegoingfacts，thatthevaryingoffspringofeachspecieswilltry（onlyafewwillsucceed）toseizeonasmanyandasdiverseplacesintheeconomyofnatureaspossible。Eachnewvarietyorspecieswhenformedwillgenerallytaketheplaceof，andsoexterminateitslesswell—fittedparent。This，Ibelieve，tobetheoriginoftheclassificationorarrangementofallorganicbeingsatalltimes。ThesealwaysSEEMtobranchandsub—branchlikeatreefromacommontrunk;theflourishingtwigsdestroyingthelessvigorous——thedeadandlostbranchesrudelyrepresentingextinctgeneraandfamilies。
ThissketchisMOSTimperfect;butinsoshortaspaceIcannotmakeitbetter。Yourimaginationmustfillupmanywideblanks。Withoutsomereflection，itwillappearallrubbish;perhapsitwillappearsoafterreflection。
C。D。
P。S。——Thislittleabstracttouchesonlytheaccumulativepowerofnaturalselection，whichIlookatasbyfarthemostimportantelementintheproductionofnewforms。Thelawsgoverningtheincipientorprimordialvariation（unimportantexceptasthegroundworkforselectiontoacton，inwhichrespectitisallimportant），Ishalldiscussunderseveralheads，butIcancome，asyoumaywellbelieve，onlytoverypartialandimperfectconclusions。
[ThejointpaperofMr。WallaceandmyfatherwasreadattheLinneanSocietyontheeveningofJuly1st。SirCharlesLyellandSirJ。D。Hookerwerepresent，andboth，Ibelieve，madeafewremarks，chieflywithaviewofimpressingonthosepresentthenecessityofgivingthemostcarefulconsiderationtowhattheyhadheard。Therewas，however，nosemblanceofadiscussion。SirJosephHookerwritestome:\"Theinterestexcitedwasintense，butthesubjectwastoonovelandtooominousfortheoldschooltoenterthelists，beforearmouring。Afterthemeetingitwastalkedoverwithbatedbreath:Lyell’sapproval，andperhapsinasmallwaymine，ashislieutenantintheaffair，ratheroverawedtheFellows，whowouldotherwisehaveflownoutagainstthedoctrine。Wehad，too，thevantagegroundofbeingfamiliarwiththeauthorsandtheirtheme。\"]
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
Down，July5th[1858]。
MydearHooker，Wearebecomemorehappyandlesspanic—struck，nowthatwehavesentoutofthehouseeverychild，andshallremoveH。，assoonasshecanmove。Thefirstnursebecameillwithulceratedthroatandquinsey，andthesecondisnowillwiththescarletfever，but，thankGod，isrecovering。Youmayimaginehowfrightenedwehavebeen。Ithasbeenamostmiserablefortnight。Thankyoumuchforyournote，tellingmethatallhadgoneonprosperouslyattheLinneanSociety。YoumustletmeonceagaintellyouhowdeeplyIfeelyourgenerouskindnessandLyell’sonthisoccasion。Butintruthitshamesmethatyoushouldhavelosttimeonamerepointofpriority。Ishallbecurioustoseetheproofs。IdonotintheleastunderstandwhethermylettertoA。Grayistobeprinted;Isupposenot，onlyyournote;butIamquiteindifferent，andplacemyselfabsolutelyinyourandLyell’shands。
Icaneasilyprepareanabstractofmywholework，butIcanhardlyseehowitcanbemadescientificforaJournal，withoutgivingfacts，whichwouldbeimpossible。Indeed，amereabstractcannotbeveryshort。CouldyougivemeanyideahowmanypagesoftheJournalcouldprobablybesparedme？
Directlyaftermyreturnhome，Iwouldbeginandcutmyclothtomymeasure。IftheRefereesweretorejectitasnotstrictlyscientific，I
could，perhapspublishitasapamphlet。
Withrespecttomybiginterleavedabstract（TheSketchof1844。），wouldyousenditanytimebeforeyouleaveEngland，totheenclosedaddress？IfyoudonotgotillAugust7th—10th，Ishouldpreferitleftwithyou。I
hopeyouhavejottedcriticismsonmyMS。onbigGenera，etc。，sufficienttomakeyourememberyourremarks，asIshouldbeinfinitelysorrytolosethem。AndIseenochanceofourmeetingifyougosoonabroad。Wethankyouheartilyforyourinvitationtojoinyou:IcanfancynothingwhichI
shouldenjoymore;butourchildrenaretoodelicateforustoleave;I
shouldbemerelivinglumber。
Lastly，yousaidyouwouldwritetoWallace;Icertainlyshouldmuchlikethis，asitwouldquiteexonerateme:ifyouwouldsendmeyournote，sealedup，Iwouldforwarditwithmyown，asIknowtheaddress，etc。
Willyouanswermesometimeaboutyournotionsofthelengthofmyabstract。
IfyouseeLyell，willyoutellhimhowtrulygratefulIfeelforhiskindinterestinthisaffairofmine。YoumustknowthatIlookatit，asveryimportant，forthereceptionoftheviewofspeciesnotbeingimmutable，thefactofthegreatestGeologistandBotanistinEnglandtakingANYSORT
OFINTERESTinthesubject:Iamsureitwilldomuchtobreakdownprejudices。
Yoursaffectionately，C。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
MissWedgwood’s，Hartfield，TunbridgeWells，[July13th，1858]。
MydearHooker，YourlettertoWallaceseemstomeperfect，quiteclearandmostcourteous。
Idonotthinkitcouldpossiblybeimproved，andIhavetodayforwardeditwithaletterofmyown。IalwaysthoughtitverypossiblethatImightbeforestalled，butIfanciedthatIhadagrandenoughsoulnottocare;
butIfoundmyselfmistakenandpunished;Ihad，however，quiteresignedmyself，andhadwrittenhalfalettertoWallacetogiveupallprioritytohim，andshouldcertainlynothavechangedhaditnotbeenforLyell’sandyourquiteextraordinarykindness。IassureyouIfeelit，andshallnotforgetit。IamMOREthansatisfiedatwhattookplaceattheLinneanSociety。IhadthoughtthatyourletterandminetoAsaGrayweretobeonlyanappendixtoWallace’spaper。
Wegofromhereinafewdaystothesea—side，probablytotheIsleofWight，andonmyreturn（afterabattlewithpigeonskeletons）Iwillsettoworkattheabstract，thoughhowonearthIshallmakeanythingofanabstractinthirtypagesoftheJournal，Iknownot，butwilltrymybest。
IshallorderBentham;isitnotapitythatyoushouldwastetimeintabulatingvarieties？forIcangettheDownschoolmastertodoitonmyreturn，andcantellyoualltheresults。
Imusttryandseeyoubeforeyourjourney;butdonotthinkIamfishingtoaskyoutocometoDown，foryouwillhavenotimeforthat。
YoucannotimaginehowpleasedIamthatthenotionofNaturalSelectionhasactedasapurgativeonyourbowelsofimmutability。Whenevernaturalistscanlookatspecieschangingascertain，whatamagnificentfieldwillbeopen，——onallthelawsofvariation，——onthegenealogyofalllivingbeings，——ontheirlinesofmigration，etc。，etc。PraythankMrs。
Hookerforherverykindlittlenote，andpray，sayhowtrulyobligedIam，andintruthashamedtothinkthatsheshouldhavehadthetroubleofcopyingmyuglyMS。Itwasextraordinarilykindinher。Farewell，mydearkindfriend。
Yoursaffectionately，C。DARWIN。
P。S。——Ihavehadsomefunhereinwatchingaslave—makingant;forIcouldnothelpratherdoubtingthewonderfulstories，butIhavenowseenadefeatedmaraudingparty，andIhaveseenamigrationfromonenesttoanotheroftheslave—makers，carryingtheirslaves（whoareHOUSE，andnotfieldniggers）intheirmouths！
Iaminclinedtothinkthatitisatruegeneralisationthat，whenhoneyissecretedatonepointofthecircleofthecorolla，ifthepistilbends，italwaysbendsintothelineofthegangwaytothehoney。TheLarkspurisagoodinstance，incontrasttoColumbine，——ifyouthinkofit，justattendtothislittlepoint。
CHARLESDARWINTOC。LYELL。
King’sHeadHotel，Sandown，IsleofWight，July18th[1858]……Weareestablishedherefortendays，andthengoontoShanklin，whichseemsmoreamusingtoone，likemyself，whocannotwalk。WehopemuchthattheseamaydoH。andL。good。Andifitdoes，ourexpeditionwillanswer，butnototherwise。
IhaveneverhalfthankedyouforalltheextraordinarytroubleandkindnessyoushowedmeaboutWallace’saffair。HookertoldmewhatwasdoneattheLinneanSociety，andIamfarmorethansatisfied，andIdonotthinkthatWallacecanthinkmyconductunfairinallowingyouandHookertodowhateveryouthoughtfair。Icertainlywasalittleannoyedtoloseallpriority，buthadresignedmyselftomyfate。Iamgoingtopreparealongerabstract;butitisreallyimpossibletodojusticetothesubject，exceptbygivingthefactsonwhicheachconclusionisgrounded，andthatwill，ofcourse，beabsolutelyimpossible。YournameandHooker’snameappearingasinanywaytheleastinterestedinmyworkwill，Iamcertain，havethemostimportantbearinginleadingpeopletoconsiderthesubjectwithoutprejudice。Ilookatthisassoveryimportant，thatIamalmostgladofWallace’spaperforhavingledtothis。
MydearLyell，yoursmostgratefully，CH。DARWIN。
[Thefollowingletterreferstotheproof—sheetsoftheLinneanpaper。The’introduction’meanstheprefatorylettersignedbySirC。LyellandSirJ。D。Hooker。]
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
King’sHeadHotel，Sandown，IsleofWight，July21st[1858]。
MydearHooker，Ireceivedonlyyesterdaytheproof—sheets，whichInowreturn。Ithinkyourintroductioncannotbeimproved。
Iamdisgustedwithmybadwriting。Icouldnotimproveit，withoutrewritingall，whichwouldnotbefairorworthwhile，asIhavebegunonabetterabstractfortheLinneanSociety。MyexcuseisthatitNEVERwasintendedforpublication。Ihavemadeonlyafewcorrectionsinthestyle;
butIcannotmakeitdecent，butIhopemoderatelyintelligible。Isupposesomeonewillcorrecttherevise。（ShallI？）
CouldIhaveacleanprooftosendtoWallace？
Ihavenotyetfullyconsideredyourremarksonbiggenera（butyourgeneralconcurrenceisoftheHIGHESTPOSSIBLEinteresttome）;norshallI
beabletillIre—readmyMS。;butyoumayrelyonitthatyounevermakearemarktomewhichislostfromINATTENTION。Iamparticularlygladyoudonotobjecttomystatingyourobjectionsinamodifiedform，fortheyalwaysstruckmeasveryimportant，andashavingmuchinherentvalue，whetherornotheywerefataltomynotions。Iwillconsiderandreconsiderallyourremarks……
IhaveorderedBentham，for，as——says，itwillbeverycurioustoseeaFlorawrittenbyamanwhoknowsnothingofBritishplants！！
IamverygladatwhatyousayaboutmyAbstract，butyoumayrelyonitthatIwillcondensetotheutmost。Iwouldaidinmoneyifitistoolong。（Thatistosay，hewouldhelptopayfortheprinting，ifitshouldprovetoolongfortheLinneanSociety。）Inhowmanywaysyouhaveaidedme！
Yoursaffectionately，C。DARWIN。
[The’Abstract’mentionedinthelastsentenceoftheprecedingletterwasinfactthe’OriginofSpecies，’onwhichhenowsettowork。Inhis’Autobiography’hespeaksofbeginningtowriteinSeptember，butinhisDiaryhewrote，\"July20toAugust12，atSandown，beganAbstractofSpeciesbook。\"\"September16，RecommencedAbstract。\"Thebookwasbegunwiththeideathatitwouldbepublishedasapaper，orseriesofpapers，bytheLinneanSociety，anditwasonlyinthelateautumnthatitbecameclearthatitmusttaketheformofanindependentvolume。]
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
NorfolkHouse，Shanklin，IsleofWight，Friday[July]30th[1858]。
MydearHooker，WillyougivetheenclosedscraptoSirWilliamtothankhimforhiskindness;andthisgivesmeanexcusetoamusemyselfbywritingtoyouanote，whichrequiresnoanswer。
Thisisaverycharmingplace，andwehavegotaverycomfortablehouse。
But，alas，IcannotsaythattheseahasdoneH。orL。muchgood。Norhasmystomachrecoveredfromallourtroubles。Iamverygladwelefthome，forsixchildrenhavenowdiedofscarletfeverinDown。Wereturnonthe14thofAugust。
IhavegotBentham（’BritishFlora。’），andamcharmedwithit，andWilliam（whohasjuststartedforatourabroad）hasbeenmakingoutallsortsofnew（tome）plantscapitally。Thelittlescrapsofinformationaresocapital……TheEnglishnamesintheanalyticalkeysdriveusmad:givethembyallmeans，butwhyonearth[not]makethemsubordinatetotheLatin;itputsmeinapassion。W。chargedintotheCompositaeandUmbelliferaelikeahero，anddemolishedeversomanyingrandstyle。
IpassmytimebydoingdailyacoupleofhoursofmyAbstract，andIfinditamusingandimprovingwork。IamnowmostheartilyobligedtoyouandLyellforhavingsetmeonthis;forIshall，whenitisdone，beabletofinishmyworkwithgreatereaseandleisure。IconfessIhatedthethoughtofthejob;andnowIfinditveryunsatisfactoryinnotbeingabletogivemyreasonsforeachconclusion。
IwillbelongerthanIexpected;itwilltakethirty—fiveofmyMS。foliopagestogiveanabstractonvariationunderdomesticationalone;butI
willtrytoputinnothingwhichdoesnotseemtomeofsomeinterest，andwhichwasoncenewtome。Itseemsaqueerplantogiveanabstractofanunpublishedwork;nevertheless，Irepeat，IamextremelygladIhavebeguninearnestonit。
IhopeyouandMrs。Hookerwillhaveaveryverypleasanttour。Farewell，mydearHooker。
Yoursaffectionately，C。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
NorfolkHouse，Shanklin，IsleofWight，Thursday[August5，1858]。
MydearHooker，Ishouldthinkthenoteapologeticalaboutthestyleoftheabstractwasbestasanote……ButIwritenowtoaskyoutosendmebyreturnofposttheMS。onbiggenera，thatImaymakeanabstractofacoupleofpagesinlength。Ipresumethatyouhavequitedonewithit，otherwiseIwouldnotforanythinghaveitback。Ifyoutieitwithstring，andmarkitMS。forprinting，itwillnotcost，Ishouldthink，morethan4pence。IshallwishmuchtosaythatyouhavereadthisMS。andconcur;butyoushall，beforeIreadittotheSociety，hearthesentence。