MydearFox，Itwasverygoodofyoutowritetomeinthemidstofallyourtroubles，thoughyouseemtohavegotoversomeofthem，intherecoveryofyourwife’sandyourownhealth。Ihadnotheardlatelyofyourmother’shealth，andamsorrytohearsopooranaccount。Butasshedoesnotsuffermuch，thatisthegreatthing;formerelifeIdonotthinkismuchvaluedbytheold。Whatatimeyoumusthavehadofit，whenyouhadtogobackwardsandforwards。
Weareallprettywell，andoureldestdaughterisimproving。Icanseedaylightthroughmywork，andamnowfinallycorrectingmychaptersforthepress;andIhopeinamonthorsixweekstohaveproof—sheets。Iamwearyofmywork。ItisaveryoddthingthatIhavenosensationthatI
overworkmybrain;butfactscompelmetoconcludethatmybrainwasneverformedformuchthinking。Weareresolvedtogofortwoorthreemonths，whenIhavefinished，toIlkley，orsomesuchplace，toseeifIcananyhowgivemyhealthagoodstart，foritcertainlyhasbeenwretchedoflate，andhasincapacitatedmeforeverything。YoudomeinjusticewhenyouthinkthatIworkforfame;Ivalueittoacertainextent;but，ifIknowmyself，Iworkfromasortofinstincttotrytomakeouttruth。HowgladIshouldbeifyoucouldsometimecometoDown;especiallywhenIgetalittlebetter，asIstillhopetobe。Wehavesetupabilliardtable，andIfinditdoesmeadealofgood，anddrivesthehorridspeciesoutofmyhead。Farewell，mydearoldfriend。
Yoursaffectionately，C。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOC。LYELL。
Down，March28th[1859]。
MydearLyell，IfIkeepdecentlywell，IhopetobeabletogotopresswithmyvolumeearlyinMay。Thisbeingso，Iwantmuchtobegalittleadvicefromyou。
>FromanexpressioninLadyLyell’snote，IfancythatyouhavespokentoMurray。Isitso？AndishewillingtopublishmyAbstract？Ifyouwilltellmewhetheranything，andwhathaspassed，Iwillthenwritetohim。
Doesheknowatallofthesubjectofthebook？Secondly，canyouadviseme，whetherIhadbetterstatewhattermsofpublicationIshouldprefer，orfirstaskhimtoproposeterms？Andwhatdoyouthinkwouldbefairtermsforanedition？Shareprofits，orwhat？
Lastly，willyoubesoverykindastolookattheenclosedtitleandgivemeyouropinionandanycriticisms;youmustrememberthat，ifIhavehealthanditappearsworthdoing，Ihaveamuchlargerandfullbookonthesamesubjectnearlyready。
MyAbstractwillbeaboutfivehundredpagesofthesizeofyourfirsteditionofthe’ElementsofGeology。’
Prayforgivemetroublingyouwiththeabovequeries;andyoushallhavenomoretroubleonthesubject。Ihopetheworldgoeswellwithyou，andthatyouaregettingonwithyourvariousworks。
Iamworkingveryhardforme，andlongtofinishandbefreeandtrytorecoversomehealth。
MydearLyell，everyours，C。DARWIN。
VerysincerethankstoyouforstandingmyproxyfortheWollastonMedal。
P。S。WouldyouadvisemetotellMurraythatmybookisnotmoreUN—
orthodoxthanthesubjectmakesinevitable。ThatIdonotdiscusstheoriginofman。ThatIdonotbringinanydiscussionaboutGenesis，etc。，etc。，andonlygivefacts，andsuchconclusionsfromthemasseemtomefair。
OrhadIbettersayNOTHINGtoMurray，andassumethathecannotobjecttothismuchunorthodoxy，whichinfactisnotmorethananyGeologicalTreatisewhichrunsslapcountertoGenesis。
INCLOSURE。
ANABSTRACTOFANESSAY
ONTHE
ORIGIN
OF
SPECIESANDVARIETIES
THROUGHNATURALSELECTION
BY
CHARLESDARWIN，M。A。
FellowoftheRoyalGeologicalandLinneanSocieties……
LONDON:
etc。，etc。，etc。，etc。
1859。
CHARLESDARWINTOC。LYELL。
Down，March30th[1859]。
MydearLyell，Youhavebeenuncommonlykindinallyouhavedone。Younotonlyhavesavedmemuchtroubleandsomeanxiety，buthavedoneallincomparablybetterthanIcouldhavedoneit。IammuchpleasedatallyousayaboutMurray。Iwillwriteeitherto—dayorto—morrowtohim，andwillsendshortlyalargebundleofMS。，butunfortunatelyIcannotforaweek，asthefirstthreechaptersareinthecopyists’hands。
IamsorryaboutMurrayobjectingtothetermAbstract，asIlookatitastheonlypossibleapologyforNOTgivingreferencesandfactsinfull，butIwilldefertohimandyou。Iamalsosorryabouttheterm\"naturalselection。\"Ihopetoretainitwithexplanationsomewhatasthus——
\"Throughnaturalselection，orthepreservationoffavouredRaces。\"
WhyIlikethetermisthatitisconstantlyusedinallworksonbreeding，andIamsurprisedthatitisnotfamiliartoMurray;butIhavesolongstudiedsuchworksthatIhaveceasedtobeacompetentjudge。
Iagainmosttrulyandcordiallythankyouforyourreallyvaluableassistance。
Yoursmosttruly，C。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
Down，April2nd[1859]……Iwrotetohim[Mr。Murray]andgavehimtheheadingsofthechapters，andtoldhimhecouldnothavetheMS。fortendaysorso;andthismorningIreceivedaletter，offeringmehandsometerms，andagreeingtopublishwithoutseeingtheMS。！Soheiseagerenough;IthinkIshouldhavebeencautious，anyhow，but，owingtoyourletter，ItoldhimmostEXPLICITLY
thatIaccepthisoffersolelyonconditionthat，afterhehasseenpartoralltheMS。，hehasfullpowerofretracting。Youwillthinkmepresumptuous，butIthinkmybookwillbepopulartoacertainextent（enoughtoensure[against]heavyloss）amongstscientificandsemi—
scientificmen;whyIthinksois，becauseIhavefoundinconversationsogreatandsurprisinganinterestamongstsuchmen，andsomeo—scientific[non—scientific]menonthissubject，andallmychaptersarenotNEARLYsodryanddullasthatwhichyouhavereadongeographicaldistribution。
Anyhow，Murrayoughttobethebestjudge，andifhechoosestopublishit，IthinkImaywashmyhandsofallresponsibility。Iamsuremyfriends，i。e。，Lyellandyou，havebeenEXTRAORDINARILYkindintroublingyourselvesonthematter。
IshallbedelightedtoseeyouthedaybeforeGoodFriday;therewouldbeoneadvantageforyouinanyotherday——asIbelievebothmyboyscomehomeonthatday——anditwouldbealmostimpossiblethatIcouldsendthecarriageforyou。Therewill，Ibelieve，besomerelationsinthehouse——
butIhopeyouwillnotcareforthat，asweshalleasilygetasmuchtalkingasmyIMBECILESTATEallows。Ishalldeeplyenjoyseeingyou……Iamtired，sonomore。
MydearHooker，youraffectionate，C。DARWIN。
P。S。——Pleasetosend，wellTIEDUPwithstrongstring，myGeographicalMS。，towardsthelatterhalfofnextweek——i。e。，7thor8th——thatImaysenditwithmoretoMurray;andGodhelphimifhetriestoreadit……IcannothelpalittledoubtingwhetherLyellwouldtakemuchpainstoinduceMurraytopublishmybook;thiswasnotdoneatmyrequest，anditrathergratesagainstmypride。
IknowthatLyellhasbeenINFINITELYkindaboutmyaffair，butyourdashed（i。e。，underlined]\"INDUCE\"givestheideathatLyellhadunfairlyurgedMurray。
CHARLESDARWINTOASAGRAY。
April4th[1859]……Youasktoseemysheetsasprintedoff;IassureyouthatitwillbetheHIGHESTsatisfactiontometodoso:Ilookattherequestasahighcompliment。Ishallnot，youmaydepend，forgetarequestwhichIlookatasafavour。But（anditisaheavy\"but\"tome）itwillbelongbeforeI
gotopress;IcantrulysayIamNEVERidle;indeed，Iworktoohardformymuchweakenedhealth;yetIcandoonlythreehoursofworkdaily，andI
cannotatallseewhenIshallhavefinished:Ihavedoneelevenlongchapters，butIhavegotsomeotherverydifficultones:aspalaeontology，classifications，andembryology，etc。，andIhavetocorrectandaddlargelytoallthosedone。Ifind，alas！eachchaptertakesmeonanaveragethreemonths，soslowIam。Thereisnoendtothenecessarydigressions。IhavejustfinishedachapteronInstinct，andhereIfoundgrapplingwithsuchasubjectasbees’cells，andcomparingallmynotesmadeduringtwentyyears，tookupadespairinglengthoftime。
ButIamrunningonaboutmyselfinamostegotisticalstyle。YetImustjustsayhowusefulIhaveagainandagainfoundyourletters，whichIhavelatelybeenlookingoverandquoting！butyouneednotfearthatIshallquoteanythingyouwoulddislike，forItrytobeverycautiousonthishead。Imostheartilyhopeyoumaysucceedingettingyour\"incubus\"ofoldworkoffyourhands，andbeinsomedegreeafreeman……
AgainletmesaythatIdoindeedfeelgratefultoyou……
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。MURRAY。
Down，April5th[1859]。
MydearSir，Isendbythispost，theTitle（withsomeremarksonaseparatepage），andthefirstthreechapters。IfyouhavepatiencetoreadallChapterI。，I
honestlythinkyouwillhaveafairnotionoftheinterestofthewholebook。Itmaybeconceit，butIbelievethesubjectwillinterestthepublic，andIamsurethattheviewsareoriginal。Ifyouthinkotherwise，Imustrepeatmyrequestthatyouwillfreelyrejectmywork;andthoughI
shallbealittledisappointed，Ishallbeinnowayinjured。
IfyouchoosetoreadChaptersII。andIII。，youwillhaveadullandratherabstrusechapter，andaplainandinterestingone，inmyopinion。
AssoonasyouhavedonewiththeMS。，pleasetosenditbyCAREFUL
MESSENGER，ANDPLAINLYDIRECTED，toMissG。Tollett，14，QueenAnneStreet，CavendishSquare。
Thislady，beinganexcellentjudgeofstyle，isgoingtolookoutforerrorsforme。
Youmusttakeyourowntime，butthesooneryoufinish，thesoonershewill，andthesoonerIshallgettopress，whichIsoearnestlywish。
IpresumeyouwillwishtoseeChapterIV。，thekey—stoneofmyarch，andChaptersX。andXI。，butpleasetoinformmeonthishead。
MydearSir，yourssincerely，C。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
Down，April11th[1859]……IwriteonelinetosaythatIheardfromMurrayyesterday，andhesayshehasreadthefirstthreechaptersofoneMS。（andthisincludesaverydullone），andheabidesbyhisoffer。HencehedoesnotwantmoreMS。，andyoucansendmyGeographicalchapterwhenitpleasesyou……
[PartoftheMS。seemstohavebeenlostonitswaybacktomyfather;hewrote（April14）toSirJ。D。Hooker:]
\"IhavetheoldMS。，otherwise，thelosswouldhavekilledme！Theworstisnowthatitwillcausedelayingettingtopress，andFARWORSTofall，losealladvantageofyourhavinglookedovermychapter，exceptthethirdpartreturned。IamverysorryMrs。Hookertookthetroubleofcopyingthetwopages。\"
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
[AprilorMay，1859]……PleasedonotsaytoanyonethatIthoughtmybookonSpecieswouldbefairlypopular，andhaveafairlyremunerativesale（whichwastheheightofmyambition），forifitproveadeadfailure，itwouldmakemethemoreridiculous。
Iencloseacriticism，atasteofthefuture——
REV。S。HAUGHTON’SADDRESSTOTHEGEOLOGICALSOCIETY，DUBLIN。（February9，1859。）
\"ThisspeculationofMessrs。DarwinandWallacewouldnotbeworthyofnoticewereitnotfortheweightofauthorityofthenames（i。e。Lyell’sandyours），underwhoseauspicesithasbeenbroughtforward。Ifitmeanswhatitsays，itisatruism;ifitmeansanythingmore，itiscontrarytofact。\"
Q。E。D。
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
Down，May11th[1859]。
MydearHooker，Thankyoufortellingmeaboutobscurityofstyle。ButonmylifenoniggerwithlashoverhimcouldhaveworkedharderatclearnessthanIhavedone。Buttheverydifficultytome，ofitselfleadstotheprobabilitythatIfail。YetoneladywhohasreadallmyMS。hasfoundonlytwoorthreeobscuresentences，butMrs。Hookerhavingsofoundit，makesmetremble。Iwilldomybestinproofs。Youareagoodmantotakethetroubletowriteaboutit。
Withrespecttoourmutualmuddle（\"WhenIgooverthechapterIwillseewhatIcando，butIhardlyknowhowIamobscure，andIthinkwearesomehowinamutualmuddlewithrespecttoeachother，fromstartingfromsomefundamentallydifferentnotions。\"——LetterofMay6，1859。），Ineverforamomentthoughtwecouldnotmakeourideascleartoeachotherbytalk，orifeitherofushadtimetowriteinextenso。
Iimaginefromsomeexpressions（butifyouaskmewhat，Icouldnotanswer）thatyoulookatvariabilityassomenecessarycontingencywithorganisms，andfurtherthatthereissomenecessarytendencyinthevariabilitytogoondivergingincharacterordegree。IFYOUDO，Idonotagree。\"Reversion\"again（aformofinheritance），IlookatasinnowaydirectlyconnectedwithVariation，thoughofcourseinheritanceisoffundamentalimportancetous，forifavariationbenotinherited，itisofnosignificancetous。ItwasonsuchpointsastheseIFANCIEDthatweperhapsstarteddifferently。
Ifearthatmybookwillnotdeserveatallthepleasantthingsyousayaboutit;andGoodLord，howIdolongtohavedonewithit！
Sincetheabovewaswritten，IhavereceivedandhavebeenMUCHINTERESTED
byA。Gray。IamdelightedathisnoteaboutmyandWallace’spaper。Hewillgoround，foritisfutiletogiveupverymanyspecies，andstopatanarbitrarylineatothers。ItiswhatmygrandfathercalledUnitarianism，\"afeatherbedtocatchafallingChristian。\"……
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
Down，May18th[1859]。
MydearHooker，Myhealthhasquitefailed。Iamoffto—morrowforaweekofHydropathy。
IamveryverysorrytosaythatIcannotlookoveranyproofs（OfSirJ。
Hooker’sIntroductiontothe’FloraofAustralia。’）intheweek，asmyobjectistodrivethesubjectoutofmyhead。Ishallreturnto—morrowweek。Ifitbeworthwhile，whichprobablyitisnot，youcouldkeepbackanyproofstillmyreturnhome。
Inhaste，everyours，C。DARWIN。
[TendayslaterhewrotetoSirJ。D。Hooker:
\"……IwriteonewordtosaythatIshallreturnonSaturday，andifyouhaveanyproof—sheetstosend，Ishallbegladtodomybestinanycriticisms。
Ihad……greatprostrationofmindandbody，butentirerest，andthedouche，and’AdamBede，’havetogetherdonemeaworldofgood。\"]
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。MURRAY。
Down，June14th[1859]。
MydearSir，Thediagramwilldoverywell，andIwillsenditshortlytoMr。Westtohaveafewtriflingcorrectionsmade。
Igetonveryslowlywithproofs。IrememberwritingtoyouthatIthoughttherewouldnotbemuchcorrection。IhonestlywrotewhatIthought，butwasmostgrievouslymistaken。Ifindthestyleincrediblybad，andmostdifficulttomakeclearandsmooth。Iamextremelysorrytosay，onaccountofexpense，andlossoftimeforme，thatthecorrectionsareveryheavy，asheavyaspossible。Butfromcasualglances，Istillhopethatlaterchaptersarenotsobadlywritten。HowIcouldhavewrittensobadlyisquiteinconceivable，butIsupposeitwasowingtomywholeattentionbeingfixedonthegenerallineofargument，andnotondetails。AllIcansayis，thatIamverysorry。
Yoursverysincerely，C。DARWIN。
P。S。Ihavebeenlookingatthecorrections，andconsideringthem。ItseemstomethatIshallputyoutoaquiteunfairexpense。IfyoupleaseIshouldliketoenterintosomesucharrangementasthefollowing:whenworkcompleted，youtoallowintheaccountafairlymoderatelyheavychargeforcorrections，andallexcessoverthattobedeductedfrommyprofits，orpaidbymeindividually。
CHARLESDARWINTOC。LYELL。
Down，June21st[1859]。
Iamworkingveryhard，butgetonslowly，forIfindthatmycorrectionsareterrificallyheavy，andtheworkmostdifficulttome。Ihavecorrected130pages，andthevolumewillbeabout500。Ihavetriedmybesttomakeitclearandstriking，butverymuchfearthatIhavefailed——
somanydiscussionsareandmustbeveryperplexing。Ihavedonemybest。
Ifyouhadallmymaterials，Iamsureyouwouldhavemadeasplendidbook。
Ilongtofinish，forIamnearlywornout。
MydearLyell，everyoursmosttruly，C。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
Down，22nd[June，1859]。
MydearHooker，Ididnotansweryourpleasantnote，withagooddealofnewstome，ofMay30th，asIhavebeenexpectingproofsfromyou。Butnow，havingnothingparticulartodo，Iwillflyanote，thoughIhavenothingparticulartosayorask。Indeed，howcanamanhaveanythingtosay，whospendseverydayincorrectingaccursedproofs;andsuchproofs！Ihavefairlytoblackenthem，andfastenslipsofpaperon，somiserablehaveIfoundthestyle。YousaythatyoudreamtthatmybookwasENTERTAINING;thatdreamisprettywelloverwithme，andIbegintofearthatthepublicwillfinditintolerablydryandperplexing。ButIwillnevergiveupthatabettermancouldhavemadeasplendidbookoutofthematerials。IwasgladtohearaboutPrestwich’spaper。（Mr。PrestwichwroteontheoccurrenceofflintinstrumentsassociatedwiththeremainsofextinctanimalsinFrance。——（Proc。R。Soc。，1859。））Mydoubthasbeen（andIseeWrighthasinsertedthesameinthe’Athenaeum’）whetherthepiecesofflintarereallytools;theirnumbersmakemedoubt，andwhenIformerlylookedatBoucherdePerthe’sdrawings，Icametotheconclusionthattheywereangularfragmentsbrokenbyiceaction。
DidcrossingtheAcaciadoanygood？Iamsohardworked，thatIcanmakenoexperiments。Ihavegotonlyto150pagesinfirstproof。
Adios，mydearHooker，everyours，CHARLESDARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。MURRAY。
Down，July25th[1859]。
MydearSir，Iwritetosaythatfivesheetsarereturnedtotheprintersreadytostrikeoff，andtwomoresheetsrequireonlyarevise;sothatIpresumeyouwillsoonhavetodecidewhatnumberofcopiestoprintoff。
Iamquiteincapableofforminganopinion。IthinkIhavegotthestyleFAIRLYgoodandclear，withinfinitetrouble。Butwhetherthebookwillbesuccessfultoadegreetosatisfyyou，Ireallycannotconjecture。I
heartilyhopeitmay。
MydearSir，yoursverysincerely，C。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOA。R。WALLACE。
Down，August9th，1859。
MydearMr。Wallace，Ireceivedyourletterandmemoir（ThisseemstorefertoMr。Wallace’spaper，\"OntheZoologicalGeographyoftheMalayArchipelago，\"’Linn。Soc。
Journ，’1860。）onthe7th，andwillforwarditto—morrowtotheLinneanSociety。ButyouwillbeawarethatthereisnomeetingtillthebeginningofNovember。YourpaperseemstomeADMIRABLEinmatter，style，andreasoning;andIthankyouforallowingmetoreadit。HadIreaditsomemonthsago，Ishouldhaveprofitedbyitformyforthcomingvolume。Butmytwochaptersonthissubjectareintype，and，thoughnotyetcorrected，I
amsoweariedoutandweakinhealth，thatIamfullyresolvednottoaddoneword，andmerelyimprovethestyle。Soyouwillseethatmyviewsarenearlythesamewithyours，andyoumayrelyonitthatnotonewordshallbealteredowingtomyhavingreadyourideas。AreyouawarethatMr。W。
Earl（ProbablyMr。W。Earle’spaper，GeographicalSoc。Journal，1845。）
publishedseveralyearsagotheviewofdistributionofanimalsintheMalayArchipelago，inrelationtothedepthoftheseabetweentheislands？
Iwasmuchstruckwiththis，andhavebeeninthehabitofnotingallfactsindistributioninthatarchipelago，andelsewhere，inthisrelation。I
havebeenledtoconcludethattherehasbeenagooddealofnaturalisationinthedifferentMalayislands，andwhichIhavethought，toacertainextent，wouldaccountforanomalies。Timorhasbeenmygreatestpuzzle。
WhatdoyousaytothepeculiarFelisthere？IwishthatyouhadvisitedTimor;ithasbeenassertedthatafossilmastodon’sorelephant’stooth（I
forgetwhich）hasbeenfoundthere，whichwouldbeagrandfact。IwasawarethatCelebeswasverypeculiar;buttherelationtoAfricaisquitenewtome，andmarvellous，andalmostpassesbelief。ItisasanomalousastherelationofPLANTSinS。W。AustraliatotheCapeofGoodHope。I
differWHOLLYfromyouonthecolonisationofoceanicislands，butyouwillhaveEVERYONEelseonyourside。Iquiteagreewithrespecttoallislandsnotsituatedfarintheocean。Iquiteagreeonthelittleoccasionalintermigrationbetweenlands[islands？]whenonceprettywellstockedwithinhabitants，butthinkthisdoesnotapplytorisingandill—
stockedislands。AreyouawarethatANNUALLYbirdsareblowntoMadeira，theAzores（andtoBermudafromAmerica）。IwishIhadgivenafullerabstractofmyreasonsfornotbelievinginForbes’greatcontinentalextensions;butitistoolate，forIwillalternothing——Iamwornout，andmusthaverest。Owen，Idonotdoubt，willbitterlyopposeus……HookerispublishingagrandintroductiontotheFloraofAustralia，andgoesthewholelength。Ihaveseenproofsofabouthalf。Witheverygoodwish。
Believeme，yoursverysincerely，C。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
Down，September1st[1859]……IamnotsurprisedatyourfindingyourIntroductionverydifficult。
Butdonotgrudgethelabour，anddonotsayyou\"haveburntyourfingers，\"
andare\"deepinthemud\";forIfeelsurethattheresultwillbewellworththelabour。UnlessIamafool，Imustbeajudgetosomeextentofthevalueofsuchgeneralessays，andIamfullyconvincedthatyoursarethemustvaluableeverpublished。
Ihavecorrectedallbutthelasttwochaptersofmybook，andhopetohavedonerevisesandallinaboutthreeweeks，andthenI（orweall）shallstartforsomemonths’hydropathy;myhealthhasbeenverybad，andIambecomingasweakasachild，andincapableofdoinganythingwhatever，exceptmythreehoursdailyworkatproof—sheets。GodknowswhetherI
shalleverbegoodatanythingagain，perhapsalongrestandhydropathymaydosomething。
IhavenothadA。Gray’sEssay，andshouldnotfeeluptocriticiseit，evenifIhadtheimpertinenceandcourage。YouwillbelievemethatI
speakstrictlythetruthwhenIsaythatyourAustralianEssayisEXTREMELY
interestingtome，rathertoomuchso。Ienjoyreadingitover，andifyouthinkmycriticismsareworthanythingtoyou，Ibegyoutosendthesheets（ifyoucangivemetimeforgooddays）;butunlessIcanrenderyouanylittle，howeverlittleassistance，Iwouldratherreadtheessaywhenpublished。PrayunderstandthatIshouldbeTRULYvexednottoreadthem，ifyouwishitforyourownsake。
Ihadaterriblylongfitofsicknessyesterday，whichmakestheworldratherextragloomyto—day，andIhaveaninsanelystrongwishtofinishmyaccursedbook，suchcorrectionseverypagehasrequiredasIneversawbefore。Itissoweariful，killingthewholeafternoon，after12o’clockdoingnothingwhatever。ButIwillgrumblenomore。Sofarewell，weshallmeetinthewinterItrust。
Farewell，mydearHooker，youraffectionatefriend，C。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOC。LYELL。
Down，September2nd[1859]……Iamverygladyouwishtoseemycleansheets:Ishouldhaveofferedthem，butdidnotknowwhetheritwouldboreyou;Iwrotebythismorning’sposttoMurraytosendthem。UnfortunatelyIhavenotgottothepartwhichwillinterestyou，Ithinkmost，andwhichtellsmostinfavouroftheview，viz。，GeologicalSuccession，GeographicalDistribution，andespeciallyMorphology，EmbryologyandRudimentaryOrgans。Iwillseethattheremainingsheets，whenprintedoff，aresenttoyou。ButwouldyoulikeformetosendthelastandperfectrevisesofthesheetsasIcorrectthem？ifso，sendmeyouraddressinablankenvelope。Ihopethatyouwillreadall，whetherdull（especiallylatterpartofChapterII。）ornot，forIamconvincedthereisnotasentencewhichhasnotabearingonthewholeargument。YouwillfindChapterIV。perplexingandunintelligible，withouttheaidoftheenclosedqueerdiagram（Thediagramillustratesdescentwithdivergence。），ofwhichIsendanoldanduselessproof。I
have，asMurraysays，correctedsoheavily，asalmosttohavere—writtenit;butyetIfearitispoorlywritten。Partsareintricate;andIdonotthinkthatevenyoucouldmakethemquiteclear。Donot，Ibeg，beinahurryincommittingyourself（likesomanynaturalists）togoacertainlengthandnofurther;forIamdeeplyconvincedthatitisabsolutelynecessarytogothewholevastlength，orsticktothecreationofeachseparatespecies;Iarguethispointbrieflyinthelastchapter。RememberthatyourverdictwillprobablyhavemoreinfluencethanmybookindecidingwhethersuchviewsasIholdwillbeadmittedorrejectedatpresent;inthefutureIcannotdoubtabouttheiradmittance，andourposteritywillmarvelasmuchaboutthecurrentbeliefaswedoaboutfossilsshellshavingbeenthoughttohavebeencreatedaswenowseethem。
Butforgivemeforrunningonaboutmyhobby—horse……
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
Down，[September]11th[1859]。
MydearHooker，Icorrectedthelastproofyesterday，andIhavenowmyrevises，index，etc。，whichwilltakemeneartotheendofthemonth。Sothattheneckofmywork，thankGod，isbroken。
IwritenowtosaythatIamuneasyinmyconscienceabouthesitatingtolookoveryourproofs，butIwasfeelingmiserablyunwellandshatteredwhenIwrote。IdonotsupposeIcouldbeofhardlyanyuse，butifI
could，praysendmeanyproofs。Ishouldbe（andfearIwas）themostungratefulmantohesitatetodoanythingforyouaftersomefifteenormoreyears’helpfromyou。
AssoonaseverIhavefairlyfinishedIshallbeofftoIlkley，orsomeotherHydropathicestablishment。ButIshallbesometimeyet，asmyproofshavebeensoutterlyobscuredwithcorrections，thatIhavetocorrectheavilyonrevises。
MurrayproposestopublishthefirstweekinNovember。Oh，goodheavens，therelieftomyheadandbodytobanishthewholesubjectfrommymind！
IhopetoGod，youdonotthinkmeabruteaboutyourproof—sheets。
Farewell，yoursaffectionately，C。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOC。LYELL。
Down，September20th[1859]。
MydearLyell，Youoncegavemeintensepleasure，orratherdelight，bythewayyouwereinterested，inamannerIneverexpected，inmyCoralReefnotions，andnowyouhaveagaingivenmesimilarpleasurebythemanneryouhavenoticedmyspecieswork。（SirCharleswasPresidentoftheGeologicalsectionatthemeetingoftheBritishAssociationatAberdeenin1859。Thefollowingpassageoccursintheaddress:\"OnthisdifficultandmysterioussubjectaworkwillveryshortlyappearbyMr。CharlesDarwin，theresultoftwentyyearsofobservationsandexperimentsinZoology，Botany，andGeology，bywhichhehadbeenledtotheconclusionthatthosepowersofnaturewhichgiverisetoracesandpermanentvarietiesinanimalsandplants，arethesameasthosewhichinmuchlongerperiodsproducespecies，andinastilllongerseriesofagesgiverisetodifferencesofgenericrank。Heappearstometohavesucceededbyhisinvestigationsandreasoningsinthrowingafloodoflightonmanyclassesofphenomenaconnectedwiththeaffinities，geographicaldistribution，andgeologicalsuccessionoforganicbeings，forwhichnootherhypothesishasbeenable，orhasevenattemptedtoaccount。\"）Nothingcouldbemoresatisfactorytome，andIthankyouformyself，andevenmoreforthesubject’ssake，asIknowwellthatthesentencewillmakemanyfairlyconsiderthesubject，insteadofridiculingit。Althoughyourpreviouslyfeltdoubtsontheimmutabilityofspecies，mayhavemoreinfluenceinconvertingyou（ifyoubeconverted）thanmybook;