1844—1858] LARGE GENERA 109 



To J. D. Hooker. Letter 64 



Down, June 8th [1S58]. 



I am confined to the sofa with boils, so you must let me 

 write in pencil. You would laugh if you could know how 

 much your note pleased me. I had the firmest conviction 

 that you would say all my MS. was bosh, and, thank God, 

 you are one of the few men who dare speak the truth. 

 Though I should not have much cared about throwing away 

 what you have seen, yet I have been forced to confess to 

 myself that all was much alike, and if you condemned that 

 you would condemn all my life's work, and that I confess 

 made me a little low ; but I could have borne it, for I have 

 the conviction that I have honestly done my best. The dis- 

 cussion comes in at the end of the long chapter on variation 

 in a state of nature, so that I have discussed, as far as I am 

 able, what to call varieties. I will try to leave out all allusion 

 to genera coming in and out in this part, till when I discuss 

 the " Principle of Divergence," which, with " Natural Selec- 

 tion," is the keystone of my book ; and I have very great* 

 confidence it is sound. I would have this discussion copied 

 out, if I could really think it would not bore you to read, — 

 for, believe me, I value to the full every word of criticism 

 from you, and the advantage which I have derived from you 

 cannot be told. . . . 



I am glad to hear that poor old Brown is dying so 

 easily. . . . 



You will think it paltry, but as I was asked to pay for 

 printing the Diploma [from a Society of which he had been 

 made an honorary member], I did not like to refuse, so I sent 

 £1. But I think it a shabby proceeding. If a gentleman 

 did me some service, though unasked to do it, and then 

 demanded payment, I should pay him, and think him a 

 shabby dog; and on this principle I sent my £1. 



The following four letters refer to an inquiry instituted in 1858 by the 

 Trustees of the British Museum as to the disposal of the Natural History 

 Collections. The inquiry was one of the first steps towards the 

 establishment of the Cromwell Road Museum, which was effected in 1875. 



To R. I. Murchi.SOn. Letter 65 



Down. June 19th [1S5S]. 



I have just received your note. Unfortunately I cannot 

 attend at the British Museum on Monday. I do not suppose 



