298 JET AT. 29. [1838. 



that it must have been an excellent meeting. I have been 

 much amused with an account I have received of the wars 

 of Don Roderick * and Babbage. What a grievous pity it 

 is that the latter should be so implacable . . . This is a 

 most rigmarole letter, for after each sentence I take breath, 

 and you will have need of it in reading it. ... 



I wish with all my heart that my Geological book was out. 

 I have every motive to work hard, and will, following your 

 steps, work just that degree of hardness to keep well. I 

 should like my volume to be out before your new edition of 

 ' Principles ' appears. Besides the Coral theory, the volcanic 

 chapters will, I think, contain some new facts. I have lately 

 been sadly tempted to be idle that is, as far as pure geology 

 is concerned by the delightful number of new views which 

 have been coming in thickly and steadily, on the classification 

 and affinities and instincts of animals* bearing on the 

 question of species. Note-book after note-book has been 

 filled with facts which begin to group themselves clearly 

 under sub-laws. 



Good night, my dear Lyell. I have filled my letter and 

 enjoyed my talk to you as much as I can without having you 

 in proprid persona. Think of the bad effects of the country 

 so once more good night. 



Ever yours, 



CHAS. DARWIN. 



Pray again give my best thanks to Mrs. Lyell. 



[The record of what he wrote during the year does not 

 give a true index of the most important work that was in 

 progress, the laying of the foundation-stones of what was to 

 be the achievement of his life. This is shown in the fore- 

 going letter to Lyell, where he speaks of being " idle," and 

 the following extract from a letter to Fox, written in June, is 

 of interest in this point of view : 



* Murchison. 



