Volume I Part 50 (2/2)

I have corrected all but the last two chapters of my book, and hope to have done revises and all in about three weeks, and then I (or we all) shall start for some months' hydropathy;as weak as a child, and incapable of doing anything whatever, except my three hours daily work at proof-sheets God knohether I shall ever be good at anything again, perhaps a long rest and hydropathy

I have not had A Gray's Essay, and should not feel up to criticise it, even if I had the ie You will believe me that I speak strictly the truth when I say that your Australian Essay is EXTREMELY interesting toit over, and if you thinkyou to send the sheets (if you can give ood days); but unless I can render you any little, however little assistance, I would rather read the essay when published Pray understand that I should be TRULY vexed not to read them, if you wish it for your own sake

I had a terribly long fit of sickness yesterday, which loo wish to finish e has required as I never saw before It is so weariful, killing the whole afternoon, after 12 o'clock doing nothing whatever But I will grumble no more So farewell, we shall meet in the winter I trust

Farewell, my dear Hooker, your affectionate friend, C DARWIN

CHARLES DARWIN TO C LYELL Down, Septelad you wish to see my clean sheets: I should have offered them, but did not knohether it would bore you; I wrote by this 's post to Murray to send theot to the part which will interest you, I think ical Succession, Geographical Distribution, and especially Morphology, Eans I will see that the re sheets, when printed off, are sent to you But would you like for me to send the last and perfect revises of the sheets as I correct them? if so, send me your address in a blank envelope I hope that you will read all, whether dull (especially latter part of Chapter II) or not, for I a on the whole arguible, without the aid of the enclosed queer diagraence), of which I send an old and useless proof I have, as Murray says, corrected so heavily, as almost to have re-written it; but yet I fear it is poorly written Parts are intricate; and I do not think that even you could , be in a hurry in coo a certain length and no further; for I ao the whole vast length, or stick to the creation of each separate species; I argue this point briefly in the last chapter Remember that your verdict will probably havewhether such views as I hold will be admitted or rejected at present; in the future I cannot doubt about their admittance, and our posterity will marvel as much about the current belief as we do about fossils shells having been thought to have been created assee the on about my hobby-horse

CHARLES DARWIN TO JD HOOKER Down, [September] 11th [1859]

My dear Hooker,

I corrected the last proof yesterday, and I have now my revises, index, etc, which will take me near to the end of the month So that the neck of my work, thank God, is broken

I write now to say that I a to look over your proofs, but I was feeling miserably unwell and shattered when I wrote I do not suppose I could be of hardly any use, but if I could, pray send ratefulfor you after some fifteen or more years' help from you

As soon as ever I have fairly finished I shall be off to Ilkley, or some other Hydropathic establishment But I shall be some time yet, as my proofs have been so utterly obscured with corrections, that I have to correct heavily on revises

Murray proposes to publish the first week in Noveood heavens, the relief to my head and body to banish the whole subject from my mind!

I hope to God, you do not think me a brute about your proof-sheets

Farewell, yours affectionately, C DARWIN

CHARLES DARWIN TO C LYELL Down, Septeave ht, by the way you were interested, in a manner I never expected, in iven me similar pleasure by the manner you have noticed ical section at theof the British association at Aberdeen in 1859

The following passage occurs in the address: ”On this difficult and mysterious subject a ill very shortly appear by Mr Charles Darwin, the result of twenty years of observations and experiy, by which he had been led to the conclusion that those powers of nature which give rise to races and permanent varieties in anier periods produce species, and in a still longer series of ages give rise to differences of generic rank He appears to s in throwing a flood of light on eographical distribution, and geological succession of organic beings, for which no other hypothesis has been able, or has even atte could be more satisfactory to me, and I thank you for myself, and even more for the subject's sake, as I knoell that the sentence willit Although your previously felt doubts on the i you (if you be converted) than ard your verdict as far more important in my own eyes, and I believe in the eyes of the world than of any other dozen men, I a you to keep your ht's time) my latter chapters, which are the most important of all on the favourable side The last chapter, which suuments contra and pro, will, I think, be useful to you I cannot too strongly express eneral truth of my doctrines, and God knows I have never shi+rked a difficulty I am foolishly anxious for your verdict, not that I shall be disappointed if you are not converted; for I re years it took hted if you do come round, especially if I have a fair share in the conversion, I shall then feel that ood for anything again in this life

Thank you rave doubt (As to the ie 310) So much and too much about myself

I have read with extreme interest in the Aberdeen paper about the flint tools; you have made the whole case far clearer to me; I suppose that you did not think the evidence sufficient about the Glacial period

With cordial thanks for your splendid notice of my book

Believe me, my dear Lyell, your affectionate disciple, CHARLES DARWIN

CHARLES DARWIN TO WD FOX Down, Septelad to get your letter a few days ago I ishi+ng to hear about you, but have been in such an absorbed, slavish, overworked state, that I had not heart without co beyond h your account of yourself is better, I cannot think it at all satisfactory, and I wish you would soon go to Malvern again My father used to believe largely in an old saying that, if a e, his chance of long life was poor, and that on the contrary it was a very good sign if he grew fatter; so that your stoutness, I look at as a very good omen My health has been as bad as it well could be all this su at short intervals to Moor Park; but I have been better lately, and, thank Heaven, I have at last as good as doneonly the index and two or three revises to do It will be published in the first week in November, and a copy shall be sent you Remember it is only an Abstract (but has cost me above thirteen iven in full I shall be curious to hear what you think of it, but I am not so silly as to expect to convert you Lyell has read about half of the volureat kudos He is wavering so much about the immutability of species, that I expect he will come round Hooker has come round, and will publish his belief soon So much for my abominable volume, which has cost me so much labour that I almost hate it On October 3rd I start for Ilkley, but shall take three days for the journey! It is so late that we shall not take a house; but I go there alone for three or four weeks, then return hoo to Moor Park for three or four weeks, and then I shall get a moderate spell of hydropathy: and I intend, if I can keep toidle this winter But I fear ennui will be as bad as a bad stomach