Volume I Part 44 (2/2)

answer soe, and only a very few undergoing change at any one tiical records answers others

VI One other principle, which ence, plays, I believe, an iin of species The same spot will support more life if occupied by very diverse foreneric forms in a square yard of turf (I have counted twenty species belonging to eighteen genera), or in the plants and insects, on any little uniforenera and faher animals, whose habits we best understand We know that it has been experiht, if cropped with several species of grasses, than with two or three species Now every single organic being, by propagating rapidly,its ut of any species after it has broken into varieties, or sub-species, or true species And it follows, I think, fro of each species will try (only a feill succeed) to seize on as many and as diverse places in the economy of nature as possible Each new variety or species when forenerally take the place of, and so exterminate its less well-fitted parent This, I believe, to be the origin of the classification or arranges at all times These always SEEM to branch and sub-branch like a tree fro the less vigorous--the dead and lost branches rudely representing extinct genera and families

This sketch is MOST imperfect; but in so short a space I cannot ination must fill up many wide blanks Without some reflection, it will appear all rubbish; perhaps it will appear so after reflection

CD

PS--This little abstract touches only the accumulative power of natural selection, which I look at as by far the most ioverning the incipient or priroundwork for selection to act on, in which respect it is all important), I shall discuss under several heads, but I can come, as you may well believe, only to very partial and imperfect conclusions

[The joint paper of Mr Wallace andof July 1st Sir Charles Lyell and Sir JD

Hooker were present, and both, I believe,on those present the necessity of giving the most careful consideration to what they had heard There was, however, no semblance of a discussion Sir Joseph Hooker writes to me: ”The interest excited was intense, but the subject was too novel and too o After theit was talked over with bated breath: Lyell's approval, and perhaps in a small way mine, as his lieutenant in the affair, rather overawed the Felloould otherwise have flown out against the doctrine We had, too, the vantage ground of being familiar with the authors and their theme”]

CHARLES DARWIN TO JD HOOKER Down, July 5th [1858]

My dear Hooker,

We are become more happy and less panic-struck, now that we have sent out of the house every child, and shall remove H,as soon as she can move The first nurse became ill with ulcerated throat and quinsey, and the second is now ill with the scarlet fever, but, thank God, is recovering You htened we have been It has been a ht Thank you one on prosperously at the Linnean Society You enerous kindness and Lyell's on this occasion But in truth it shames me that you should have lost time on a mere point of priority I shall be curious to see the proofs

I do not in the least understand whether my letter to A Gray is to be printed; I suppose not, only your note; but I am quite indifferent, and place myself absolutely in your and Lyell's hands

I can easily prepare an abstract of my whole work, but I can hardly see how it can befacts, which would be impossible Indeed, a ive es of the Journal could probably be spared in and cut my cloth to my measure If the Referees were to reject it as not strictly scientific, I could, perhaps publish it as a pa interleaved abstract (The Sketch of 1844), would you send it any tiland, to the enclosed address?

If you do not go till August 7th-10th, I should prefer it left with you I hope you have jotted criticis Genera, etc, sufficient to make you remember your remarks, as I should be infinitely sorry to lose theo soon abroad We thank you heartily for your invitation to join you: I can fancy nothing which I should enjoy more; but our children are too delicate for us to leave; I should belumber

Lastly, you said you would write to Wallace; I certainly should much like this, as it would quite exonerate me: if you would send me your note, sealed up, I would forward it with my own, as I know the address, etc

Will you answer th of my abstract

If you see Lyell, will you tell hirateful I feel for his kind interest in this affair of mine You must know that I look at it, as very i iist and Botanist in England taking ANY SORT OF INTEREST in the subject: I am sure it will do much to break down prejudices

Yours affectionately, C DARWIN

CHARLES DARWIN TO JD HOOKER Miss Wedgwood's, Hartfield, Tunbridge Wells, [July 13th, 1858]

My dear Hooker,

Your letter to Wallace seems to me perfect, quite clear and most courteous I do not think it could possibly be improved, and I have to day forwarded it with a letter of ht be forestalled, but I fancied that I had a grand enough soul not to care; but I found ned ive up all priority to hied had it not been for Lyell's and your quite extraordinary kindness I assure you I feel it, and shall not forget it I am MORE than satisfied at what took place at the Linnean Society I had thought that your letter and mine to Asa Gray were to be only an appendix to Wallace's paper

We go from here in a few days to the sea-side, probably to the Isle of Wight, and on eon skeletons) I will set to work at the abstract, though how on earth I shall es of the Journal, I know not, but will try my best I shall order Bentha varieties? for I can get the Down schoolmaster to do it on my return, and can tell you all the results

I must try and see you before your journey; but do not think I a to ask you to come to Down, for you will have no tiine how pleased I aative on your bowels of i as certain, what a nificent field will be open,--on all the laws of variation,--on the genealogy of all living beings,--on their lines of ration, etc, etc Pray thank Mrs Hooker for her very kind little note, and pray, say how truly obliged I am, and in truth asha ly MS It was extraordinarily kind in her

Farewell, my dear kind friend