1858.] THE PROPOSED BOOK. 483 



God, is recovering. You may imagine how frightened we 

 have been. It has been a most miserable fortnight. Thank 

 you much for your note, telling me that all had gone on 

 prosperously at the Linnean Society. You must let me once 

 again tell you how deeply I feel your generous kindness and 

 Lyell's on this occasion. But in truth it shames me that you 

 should have lost time on a mere point of priority. I shall be 

 curious to see the proofs. I do not in the least understand 

 whether my letter to A. Gray is to be printed ; I suppose not, 

 only your note ; but I am quite indifferent, and place myself 

 absolutely in your and Lyell's hands. 



I can easily prepare an abstract of my whole work, but I 

 can hardly see how it can be made scientific for a Journal, 

 without giving facts, which would be impossible. Indeed, a 

 mere abstract cannot be very short. Could you give me any 

 idea how many pages of the Journal could probably be spared 

 me ? 



Directly after my return home, I would begin and cut my 

 cloth to my measure. If the Referees were to reject it as not 

 strictly scientific, I could, perhaps, publish it as a pamphlet. 



With respect to my big interleaved abstract,* would you 

 send it any time before you leave England, to the enclosed 

 address ? If you do not go till August yth-ioth, I should 

 prefer it left with you. I hope you have jotted criticisms on 

 my MS. on big Genera, &c., sufficient to make you remember 

 your remarks, as I should be infinitely sorry to lose them. 

 And I see no chance of our meeting if you go soon abroad. 

 We thank you heartily for your invitation to join you : I can 

 fancy nothing which I should enjoy more ; but our children 

 are too delicate for us to leave; I should be mere living 

 lumber. 



Lastly, you said you would write to Wallace ; I certainly 

 should much like this, as it would quite exonerate me : if you 

 would send me your note, sealed up, I would forward it with 

 my own, as I know the address, &c. 



* The Sketch of 1844. 



