ch. ix.] 1831-1844. 181 



books as some temptation to an editor. I also request that 

 you will hand over [to] him all those scraps roughly divided 

 in eight or ten brown paper portfolios. The scraps, with 

 copied quotations from various works, are those which may 

 aid my editor. I also request that you, or some amanuensis 

 will aid in deciphering any of the scraps which the editor 

 may think possibly of use. I leave to the editor's judg- 

 ment whether to interpolate these facts in the text, or as 

 notes, or under appendices. As the looking over the ref- 

 erences and scraps will be a long labour, and as the cor- 

 recting and enlarging and altering my sketch will also take 

 considerable time, I leave this sum of 400 as some remu- 

 neration, and any profits from the work. I consider that for 

 this the editor is bound to get the sketch published either 

 at a publisher's or his own risk. Many of the scraps in the 

 portfolios contain mere rude suggestions and early views, 

 now useless, and many of the facts will probably turn out 

 as having no bearing on mv theorv. 



With respect to editors, Mr. Lyell would be the best if he 

 would undertake it ; I believe he would find the work pleas- 

 ant, and he would learn some facts new to him. As the ed- 

 itor must be a geologist as well as a naturalist, the next best 

 editor would be Professor Forbes of London. The next 

 best (and quite best in many respects) would be Professor 

 Henslow. Dr. Hooker would be very good. The next Mr. 

 Strickland.* If none of these would undertake it, I request 

 you to consult with Mr. Lyell, or some other capable man 

 for some editor, a geologist and naturalist. Should one 

 other hundred pounds make the difference of procuring a 

 good editor, I request earnestly that you will raise 500. 



My remaining collections in Natural History may be 

 given to any one or any museum where [they] would be ac- 

 cepted. . . . 



The following note seems to have formed part of the 

 original letter, but may have been of later date : 



" Lyell, especially with the aid of Hooker (and of any 

 good zoological aid), would be best of all. Without an ed- 

 itor will pledge himself to give up time to it, it would be of 

 no use paying such a sum." 



" If there should be any difficulty in getting an editor 



* After Mr. Strickland's name comes the following sentence, which has 

 been erased, but remains legible : " Professor Owen would be very good ; but 

 I presume he would not undertake such a work." 



