Volume I Part 50 (1/2)

CHARLES DARWIN TO C LYELL Down, June 21st [1859]

I aet on slowly, for I find that my corrections are terrifically heavy, and the work es, and the volume will be about 500 I have tried , but very much fear that I have failed--soI have done my best If you had all my materials, I a to finish, for I am nearly worn out

My dear Lyell, ever yours most truly, C DARWIN

CHARLES DARWIN TO JD HOOKER Down, 22nd [June, 1859]

My dear Hooker,

I did not answer your pleasant note, with a good deal of news toproofs fro particular to do, I will fly a note, though I have nothing particular to say or ask Indeed, how can aaccursed proofs; and such proofs! I have fairly to blacken them, and fasten slips of paper on, so miserable have I found the style You say that you dreamt that my book was ENTERTAINING; that dreain to fear that the public will find it intolerably dry and perplexing But I will never give up that a better man could have lad to hear about Prestwich's paper (Mr

Prestrote on the occurrence of flint instruments associated with the remains of extinct animals in France--(Proc R Soc, 1859)) My doubt has been (and I see Wright has inserted the same in the 'Athenaeum') whether the pieces of flint are really tools; their numbers make me doubt, and when I fors, I ca the Acacia do any good? I aot only to 150 pages in first proof

Adios, my dear Hooker, ever yours, CHARLES DARWIN

CHARLES DARWIN TO J MURRAY Down, July 25th [1859]

My dear Sir,

I write to say that five sheets are returned to the printers ready to strike off, and two more sheets require only a revise; so that I presume you will soon have to decide what number of copies to print off

I aot the style FAIRLY good and clear, with infinite trouble But whether the book will be successful to a degree to satisfy you, I really cannot conjecture I heartily hope it may

My dear Sir, yours very sincerely, C DARWIN

CHARLES DARWIN TO AR WALLACE Down, August 9th, 1859

My dear Mr Wallace,

I received your letter and memoir (This seeraphy of the Malay Archipelago,” 'Linn

Soc Journ,' 1860) on the 7th, and will forward it to-morrow to the Linnean Society But you will be aware that there is noof November Your paper see; and I thank you for allowing o, I should have profited by it forvolume But h not yet corrected, I am so wearied out and weak in health, that I am fully resolved not to add one word, and merely improve the style So you will see that my views are nearly the same with yours, and youtoread your ideas Are you aware that Mr W Earl (Probably Mr W Earle's paper, Geographical Soc Journal, 1845) published several years ago the view of distribution of anio, in relation to the depth of the sea between the islands? I wasall facts in distribution in that archipelago, and elsewhere, in this relation I have been led to conclude that there has been a good deal of naturalisation in the different Malay islands, and which I have thought, to a certain extent, would account for anoreatest puzzle What do you say to the peculiar Felis there? I wish that you had visited Timor; it has been asserted that a fossil et which) has been found there, which would be a grand fact I are that Celebes was very peculiar; but the relation to Africa is quite new to me, and marvellous, and almost passes belief It is as anomalous as the relation of PLANTS in SW Australia to the Cape of Good Hope I differ WHOLLY from you on the colonisation of oceanic islands, but you will have EVERY ONE else on your side I quite agree with respect to all islands not situated far in the ocean I quite agree on the little occasional interration between lands [islands?] when once pretty well stocked with inhabitants, but think this does not apply to rising and ill-stocked islands Are you aware that ANNUALLY birds are blown to Madeira, the Azores (and to Beriven a fuller abstract of reat continental extensions; but it is too late, for I will alter nothing--I am worn out, and must have rest Owen, I do not doubt, will bitterly oppose usHooker is publishi+ng a grand introduction to the Flora of Australia, and goes the whole length I have seen proofs of about half

With every good wish

Believe me, yours very sincerely, C DARWIN

CHARLES DARWIN TO JD HOOKER Down, Septe your Introduction very difficult

But do not grudge the labour, and do not say you ”have burnt your fingers,” and are ”deep in the mud”; for I feel sure that the result will be orth the labour Unless I ae to soeneral essays, and I am fully convinced that yours are the must valuable ever published