Volume I Part 26 (1/2)

Believe me, my dear old friend, ever yours, C DARWIN

CHARLES DARWIN TO JD HOOKER Down, Monday [February 10th, 1845]

My dear Hooker,

I aood-natured, in the midst of your scientific and theatrical dissipation, to think of writing so long a letter to me I am astonished at your news, and I must condole with you in your PRESENT view of the Professorshi+p (Sir JD Hooker was a candidate for the Professorshi+p of Botany at Edinburgh University), andso chilling in a separation of so h we did not see much of each other when nearer

You will hardly believe how deeply I regret for MYSELF your present prospects I had looked forward to [our] seeingour lives It is a heavy disappoint me in my work, your loss is indeed irreparable

But, on the other hand, I cannot doubt that you take at present a desponding, instead of bright, view of your prospects: surely there are great advantages, as well as disadvantages The place is one of eminence; and really it appears to me there are so h advantage, in a purely scientific point of view, for a good worker to hold a position which leads others to attend to his work I forget whether you attended Edinburgh, as a student, but inthe indifferent and dull listeners which you expect for your audience Reflect what a satisfaction and honour it would be to MAKE a good botanist--with your disposition you will be to e to uide

Then what a fine garden, and how good a Public Library! why, Forbes always regrets the advantages of Edinburgh for work: think of the inesti within a short walk of those noble rocks and hills and sandy shores near Edinburgh! Indeed, I cannot pity you ly in your loss Surely lecturing will, in a year or tith your GREAT capacity for work (whatever you may be pleased to say to the contrary) become easy, and you will have a fair tieneral views of distribution If I thought your Professorshi+p would stop your work, I should wish it and all the good worldly consequences at el Diavolo I know I shall live to see you the first authority in Europe on that grand subject, that alraphical Distribution Well, there is one comfort, you will be at Kew, no doubt, every year, so I shall finish by forcing down your throat rieve to hear Huhtly, that such an end is hu: even when I saw hiive him my most respectful and kind coet thatread and re-read as a youth his 'Personal Narrative' How true and pleasing are all your remarks on his kindness; think howa Humboldt to others Ask him about the river in NE Europe, with the Flora very different on its opposite banks I have got and read your Wilkes; what a feeble book in ot up! Do write me a line from Berlin Also thanks for the proof-sheets I do not, however,extracts

Farewell, my dear Hooker, with a heavy heart I wish you joy of your prospects

Your sincere friend,

C DARWIN

[The second edition of the 'Journal,' to which the following letter refers, was coust 25th It was published by Mr Murray in the 'Colonial and Hoe sale

Up to the tiotiations with Mr Murray for its publication in this fore nulad to sell the copyright of the second edition to Mr Murray for 150 pounds

The points of difference between it and the first edition are of interest chiefly in connection with the growth of the author's views on evolution, and will be considered later]

CHARLES DARWIN TO C LYELL Down [July, 1845]

My dear Lyell,

I send you the first part (No doubt proof-sheets) of the new edition [of the 'Journal of Researches'], which I so entirely owe to you You will see that I have ventured to dedicate it to you (The dedication of the second edition of the 'Journal of Researches,' is as follows:--”To Charles Lyell, Esq, FRS, this second edition is dedicated with grateful pleasure--as an acknowledgment that the chief part of whatever scientific merit this Journal and the other works of the Authorthe well-known and ady'”), and I trust that this cannot be disagreeable I have long wished, not so s of honesty, to acknowledge ically owe you Those authors, however, who like you, educate people's minds as well as teach them special facts, can never, I should think, have full justice done them except by posterity, for the mind thus insensibly improved can hardly perceive its oard ascent I had intended putting in the present acknowledgy, but its sale is so exceedingly s that as far as lay in h imperfectly, my debt Pray do not think that I aratify you, except so far as I trust you will receive it, as a ratitude and friendshi+p I think I have improved this edition, especially the second part, which I have just finished

I have added a good deal about the Fuegians, and cut down into half the laciers, etc I do not recollect anything added to the first part, long enough to call your attention to; there is a page of description of a very curious breed of oxen in Banda Oriental I should like you to read the few last pages; there is a little discussion on extinction, which will not perhaps strike you as new, though it has so struck me, and has placed in my mind all the difficulties with respect to the causes of extinction, in the saenerally quite overlooked and undervalued by naturalists; I ought, however, to have er and shewn by facts, as I easily could, how steadily every species must be checked in its numbers

I received your Travels ('Travels in North Aly its external and internal appearance; I read only about a dozen pages last night (for I was tired with hay-h to perceive how VERY es will be scored I a of Natural History; I shall be astonished if it does not sell very largely

How sorry I a; I wish you may knock yourself a little bit up before you start and require a day's fresh air, before the ocean breezes blow on you

Ever yours, C DARWIN

CHARLES DARWIN TO C LYELL Down, Saturday [August 1st, 1845]

My dear Lyell,

I have been wishi+ng to write to you for a week past, but every fiveout my second part (Of the second edition of the 'Journal of Researches') Your note pleased ood deal more I dare say than my dedication did you, and I thank you ive you ht you would care to hear what I thought of the non-scientific parts, I made no notes, nor took pains to remember any particular impression of two-thirds of the first volume The first ih I have literally seen not one soul since reading it) regret at there not being e, for I have read nothing, ie non-scientific about North America, but the whole struckYour discussions bore to ht, and of conclusions drawn from facts observed by yourself, and not from the opinions of the people whom you met; and this I suspect is comparatively rare