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



Glacial period. I should like to know what he thinks on this 

 head. I have one question to ask : Would it be any good to 

 send a copy of my book to Decaisne ? and do you know any 

 philosophical botanists on the Continent, who read English 

 and care for such subjects? if so, give me their addresses. 

 How about Andersson in Sweden ? You cannot think how 

 refreshing it is to idle away the whole day, and hardly ever 

 think in the least about my confounded book which half- 

 killed me. I much wish I could hear of your taking a real 

 rest. I know how very strong you are mentally, but I never 

 will believe you can go on working as you have worked of 

 late with impunity. You will some day stretch the string 

 too tight. Farewell, my good, and kind, and dear friend, 



Yours affectionately, 



C. Darwin. 



C. Danvin to T. H. Huxley. 



Ilkley, Yorkshire, Oct. 15th [1859]. 



My DEAR HUXLEY, I am here hydropathising and 

 coming to life again, after having finished my accursed book, 

 which would have been easy work to any one else, but half- 

 killed me. I have thought you would give me one bit of 

 information, and I know not to whom else to apply ; viz., the 

 addresses of Barrande, Von Siebold, Keyserling (I dare say 

 Sir Roderick would know the latter). 



Can you tell me of any good and speculative foreigners to 

 whom it would be worth while to send copies of my book, on 

 the ' Origin of Species ' ? I doubt whether it is worth sending 

 to Siebold. I should like to send a few copies about, but 

 how many I can afford I know not yet till I hear what price 

 Murray affixes. 



I need not say that I will send, of course, one to you, in 

 the first week of November. I hope to send copies abroad 

 immediately. I shall be intensely curious to hear what effect 



