164 THE WRITING OF THE 'ORIGIN OF SPECIES.' [1859. 



I would rather read the essay when published. Pray under- 

 stand 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 makes 

 the world rather extra gloomy to-day, and I have an insanely 

 strong wish to finish my accursed book, such corrections every 

 page 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. 



C. Darwin to C. Lyell. 



Down, Sept. 2nd [1859]. 



... I am very glad you wish to see my clean sheets : I should 

 have offered them, but did not know whether it would bore 

 you ; I wrote by this morning's post to Murray to send them. 

 Unfortunately I have not got to the part which will interest 

 you, I think most, and which tells most in favour of the view, 

 viz. Geological Succession, Geographical Distribution, and espe- 

 cially Morphology, Embryology and Rudimentary Organs. I 

 will see that the remaining 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 am convinced there is not a sentence which has not a 

 bearing on the whole argument. You will find Chapter IV. 

 perplexing and unintelligible, without the aid of the enclosed 

 queer diagram,* 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 



* The diagram illustrates descent with divergence. 



