1358.] THE 'ABSTRACT.' 487 



Could I have a clean proof to send to Wallace ? 



i have not yet fully considered your remarks on big genera 

 (but your general concurrence is of the highest possible inter- 

 est to me) ; nor shall I be able till I re-read my MS. ; but 

 you may rely on it that you never make a remark to me which 

 is lost from inattention. I am particularly glad you do not 

 object to my stating your objections in a modified form, for 

 they always struck me as very important, and as having much 

 inherent value, whether or no they were fatal to my notions. 

 I will consider and reconsider all your remarks. . . . 



I have ordered Bentham, for, as says, it will be very 



curious to see a Flora written by a man who knows nothing 

 of British plants ! ! 



I am very glad at what you say about my Abstract, but 

 you may rely on it that I will condense to the utmost. I 

 would aid in money if it is too long.* In how many ways 

 you have aided me ! 



Yours affectionately, 



C. DARWIN. 



[The ' Abstract ' mentioned in the last sentence of the pre- 

 ceding letter was in fact the ' Origin of Species,' on which he 

 now set to work. In his ' Autobiography ' (p. 70) he speaks 

 of beginning to write in September, but in his Diary he wrote, 

 " July 20 to Aug. 12, at Sandown, began Abstract of Species 

 book." "Sep. 16, Recommenced Abstract." The book was 

 begun with the idea that it would be published as a paper, or 

 series of papers, by the Linnean Society, and it was only in 

 the late autumn that it became clear that it must take the 

 form of an independent volume.] 



* That is to say, he would help to pay for the printing, if it should 

 prove too long for the Linnean Society. 



