126 THE WRITING OF THE 'ORIGIN OF SPECIES.' [1858. 



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 ominous for the old school to enter the lists, before 

 armouring. After the meeting it 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 Fellows, 

 who would otherwise have flown out against the doctrine. 

 We had, too, the vantage ground of being familiar with the 

 authors and their theme."] 



C. Darwin to J. D. 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 quinsy, 

 and the second is now ill with the scarlet fever, but, thank 

 God, is recovering. You may imagine how frightened we 

 have been. It has been a most miserable fortnight. Thank 

 you much for your note, telling me that all had gone on 

 prosperously at the Linnean Society. You must let me once 

 again tell you how deeply I feel your generous 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 be made scientific for a Journal, 

 without giving facts, which would be impossible. Indeed, a 

 mere abstract cannot be very short. Could you give me any 



