l6 PUBLICATION OF THE 'ORIGIN OF SPECIES.' [1859. 



extenso ; if ever I get strong enough I will do so, as the 

 greater part is written out, and of which MS. the present 

 volume is an abstract. 



I fear this note will be almost illegible ; but I am poorly, 

 and can hardly sit up. Farewell ; with thanks for your kind 

 note and pleasant remembrance of good old days. 



Yours very sincerely, 



C. Darwin. 



C. Darwin to A. *R. Wallace. 



Ilkley, November 13th, 1859. 



My dear Sir, — I have told Murray to send you by post 

 (if possible) a copy of my book, and I hope that you will 

 receive it at nearly the same time with this note, (N.B. I 

 have got a bad finger, which makes me write extra badly.) 

 If you are so inclined, I should very much like to hear your 

 general impression of the book, as you have thought so pro- 

 foundly on the subject, and in so nearly the same channel 

 with myself. I hope there will be some little new to you, but 

 I fear not much. Remember it is only an abstract, and very 

 much condensed. God knows what the public will think. No 

 one has read it, except Lyell, with whom I have had much 

 correspondence. Hooker thinks him a complete convert, but 

 he. does not seem so in his letters to me ; but is evidently 

 deeply interested in the subject. I do not think your share 

 in the theory will be overlooked by the real judges, as Hooker, 

 Lyell, Asa Gray, &c. I have heard from Mr. Slater that your 

 paper on the Malay Archipelago has been read at the Linnean 

 Society, and that he was extremely m.uch interested by it. 



I have not seen one naturalist for six or nine months, 

 owing to the state of my health, and therefore I really have 

 no news to tell you. I am writing this at Ilkley Wells, where I 

 have been with my family for the last six weeks, and shall 

 stay for some few weeks longer. As yet I have profited very 

 little. God knows when I shall have strength for my bigger 

 book. 



I sincerely hope that you keep your health; I suppose 



