1859-] PLANS FOR PUBLICATION. 509 



dition that, after he has seen part or all the MS., he has full 

 power of retracting. You will think me presumptuous, but 

 I think my book will be popular to a certain extent (enough 

 to ensure [against] heavy loss) amongst scientific and semi- 

 scientific men ; why I think so is, because I have found in 

 conversation so great and surprising an interest amongst such 

 men, and some o-scientific [non-scientific] men on this subject, 

 and all my chapters are not nearly so dry and dull as that 

 which you have read on geographical distribution. Anyhow, 

 Murray ought to be the best judge, and if he chooses to pub- 

 lish it, I think I may wash my hands of all responsibility. I 

 am sure my friends, /. <?., Lyell and you, have been extraordi- 

 narily kind in troubling yourselves on the matter. 



I shall be delighted to see you the day before Good 

 Friday ; there would be one advantage for you in any other 

 day — as I believe both my boys come home on that day — 

 and it would be almost impossible that I could send the 

 carriage for you. There will, I believe, be some relations in 

 the house — but I hope you will not care for that, as we shall 

 easily get as much talking as my imbecile state allows. I shall 

 deeply enjoy seeing you. 



.... I am tired, so no more. 



My dear Hooker, your affectionate, 



C. Darwin. 



P. S. — Please to send, well tied up with strong string, my 

 Geographical MS., towards the latter half of next week — /.<?., 

 7th or 8th — that I may send it with more to Murray ; and 

 God help him if he tries to read it. 



.... I cannot help a little doubting whether Lyell would 

 take much pains to induce Murray to publish my book ; this 

 was not done at my request, and it rather grates against my 

 pride. 



I know that Lyell has been i?ifi?iitely kind about my affair^ 

 but your dashed [/. e., underlined] " induce " gives the idea that 

 Lyell had unfairly urged Murray. 



