1858.] THE 'ABSTRACT.' 1 33 



C. Darwin to J. D. Hooker. 



Norfolk House, Shanklin, Isle of Wight. 



Thursday [Aug. 5, 1858]. 



My DEAR Hooker, I should think the note apologetical 

 about the style of the Abstract was best as a note .... But 

 I write now to ask you to send me by return of post the MS. 

 on big genera, that I may make an abstract of a couple of 

 pages in length. I presume that you have quite done with it, 

 otherwise I would not for anything have it back. If you tie 

 it with string, and mark it MS. for printing, it will not cost, 

 I should think, more than \d. I shall wish much to say that 

 you have read this MS. and concur ; but you shall, before I 

 read it to the Society, hear the sentence. 



What you tell me after speaking with Busk about the length 

 of the Abstract is an immense relief to me ; it will make the 

 labour far less, not having to shorten so much every single 

 subject ; but I will try not to be too diffusive. I fear it will 

 spoil all interest in my book,* whenever published. The 

 Abstract will do very well to divide into several parts : thus I 

 have just finished " Variation under Domestication," in forty- 

 four MS. pages, and that would do for one evening ; but I 

 should be extremely sorry if all could not be published 

 together. 



What else you say about my Abstract pleases me highly, 

 but frightens me, for I fear I shall never be able to make 

 it good enough. But how I do run on about my own affairs 

 to you ! 



I was astonished to see Sir W. Hooker's card here two or 

 three days ago : I was unfortunately out walking. Henslow, 

 also, has written to me, proposing to come to Down on the 

 9th, but alas, I do not return till the 13th, and my wife not till 

 a week later ; so that I am also most sorry to think I shall 



* The larger book begun in 1856. 



