124 THE COMING [CH. 



On the 5th July 1844, Darwin wrote a letter to 

 his wife in which he said, 'I have just finished my 

 sketch of my species theory. If, as I believe, my 

 theory in time be accepted, even by one competent 

 judge, it will be a considerable step in science.' He 

 goes on to request his wife, 'in case of my sudden 

 death* to devote 400 (or if found necessary 500) 

 to securing an editor and publishing the work. As 

 editor he says 'Lyell would be the best, if he would 

 undertake it/ and later, ' Lyell, especially with the aid 

 of Hooker (and if any good zoological aid), would be 

 best of all.' He then suggests other names from 

 which a choice might be made, but adds 'the editor 

 must be a geologist as well as naturalist/ Fortunately 

 for the world Mrs Darwin was never called upon to 

 take action in accordance with the terms of this 

 affecting document 127 . 



It must be remembered that, at this time, Darwin 

 was hard at work on the three volumes of the 

 Geology of the Beagle, and on the second and revised 

 edition of his Journal of Researches. This which he 

 considered his 'proper work* he stuck to closely, 

 whenever his health permitted. He had hoped to 

 complete these books in three or four years, but 

 they actually occupied him for ten, owing to constant 

 interruptions from illness. His occasional neglect of 

 this task, and indulgence in his ' species work/ as he 

 called it, was always spoken of at this time by 



