ch. xi.] 18581859. 203 



can think my conduct unfair in allowing you and Hooker to 

 do whatever you thought fair. I certainly was a little an- 

 noyed to lose all priority, but had resigned myself to my 

 fate. I am going to prepare a longer abstract ; but it is 

 really impossible to do justice to the subject, except by giv- 

 ing the facts on which each conclusion is grounded, and that 

 will, of course, be absolutely impossible. Your name and 

 Hooker's name appearing as in any way the least interested 

 in my work will, I am certain, have the most important 

 bearing in leading people to consider the subject without 

 prejudice. I look at this as so very important, that I am 

 almost glad of Wallace's paper for having led to this. 

 My dear Lyell, yours most gratefully. 



The following letter refers to the proof-sheets of the Lin- 

 nean paper. The ' introduction ' means the prefatory letter 

 signed by Sir C. Lyell and Sir J. D. Hooker. 



C. D. to J. D. Hooker. King's Head Hotel, Sandown, Isle 

 of Wight. July 21st [1858]. 



My dear Hooker. I received only yesterday the proof- 

 sheets, which I now return. I think your introduction can- 

 not be improved. 



I am disgusted with my bad writing. I could not im- 

 prove it, without rewriting all, which would not be fair or 

 worth while, as I have begun on a better abstract for the 

 Linnean Society. My excuse is that it never was intended 

 for publication. I have made only a few corrections in the 

 style ; but I cannot make it decent, but I hope moderately 

 intelligible. I suppose some one will correct the revise. 

 (Shall I ? ) 



Could I have a clean proof to send to Wallace ? 



I have not yet fully considered your remarks on big 

 genera (but your general concurrence is of the highest possi- 

 ble interest to me) ; nor shall I be able till I re-read my 

 MS. ; but you may rely on it that you never make a remark 

 to me which is lost from inattention. I am particularly 

 glad you do not object to my stating your objections in a 

 modified form, for they always struck me as very important, 

 and as having much inherent value, whether or no they were 

 fatal to my notions. I will consider and reconsider all your 

 remarks. ... 



I am very glad at what you say about my Abstract, but 



