SKETCH OF 1844. 17 



zn deciphering any of the scraps which the editor may think 

 possibly of use. I leave to the editor's judgment whether to 

 interpolate these facts in the text, or as notes, or under 

 appendices. As the looking over the references and scraps 

 will be a long labour, and as the correcting and enlarging and 

 altering my sketch will also take considerable time, I leave 

 this sum of ^400 as some remuneration, and any profits from 

 the work. I consider that for this the editor is bound to get 

 the sketch published either at a publisher's or his own risk. 

 Many of the scraps in the portfolios contain mere rude sugges- 

 tions and early views, now useless, and many of the facts will 

 probably turn out as having no bearing on my theory. 



With respect to editors, Mr. Lyell would be the best if he 

 would undertake it ; I believe he would find the work pleasant, 

 and he would learn some facts new to him. As the editor must 

 "be a geologist as well as a naturalist, the next best editor would 

 be Professor Forbes of London. The next best (and quite 

 best in many respects) would be Professor Henslow. Dr. 

 Hooker would be very good. The next, Mr. Strickland.* If 

 none of these would undertake it, I would request you to 

 consult with Mr. Lyell, or some other capable man for some 

 editor, a geologist and naturalist. Should one other hundred 

 pounds make the difference of procuring a good editor, I 

 request earnestly that you will raise ^500. 



My remaining collections in Natural History may be given 

 to any one or any museum where [they] would be accepted. . . . 



[The following note seems to have formed part of the 

 original letter, but may have been of later date : 



" Lyell, especially with the aid of Hooker (and if any good 

 zoological aid), would be best of all. Without an editor will 

 pledge himself to give up time to it, it would be of no use 

 paying such a sum. 



* After Mr. Strickland's name ible. "Professor Owen would be 

 comes the following sentence, which very good ; but I presume he would 

 has been erased, but remains leg- not undertake such a work." 



VOL. II. C 



