506 THE WRITING OF THE 'ORIGIN OF SPECIES.' [1859 



correcting my chapters for the press ; and I hope in a month 

 or six weeks to have proof-sheets. I am weary of my work. 

 It is a very odd thing that I have no sensation that I over- 

 work my brain ; but facts compel me to conclude that my 

 brain was never formed for much thinking. We are resolved 

 to go for two or three months, when I have finished, to Ilkley, 

 or some such place, to see if I can anyhow give my health 

 a good start, for it certainly has been wretched of late, and 

 has incapacitated me for everything. You do me injustice 

 when you think that I work for fame ; I value it to a certain 

 extent ; but, if I know myself, I work from a sort of instinct 

 to try to make out truth. How glad I should be if you could 

 sometime come to Down ; especially when I get a little better, 

 as I still hope to be. We have set up a billiard table, and I 

 find it does me a deal of good, and drives the horrid species 

 out of my head. Farewell, my dear old friend. 



Yours affectionately, 



C. DARWIN, 



C. Darwin to C. LyelL 



Down, March 28th [1859]. 



MY DEAR LYELL, If I keep decently well, I hope to be 

 able to go to press with my volume early in May. This being 

 so, I want much to beg a little advice from you. From an 

 expression in Lady Lyell's note, I fancy that you have spoken 

 to Murray. Is it so ? And is he willing to publish my Ab- 

 stract? If you will tell me whether anything, and what has 

 passed, I will then write to him. Does he know at all of the 

 subject of the book? Secondly, can you advise me, whether 

 I had better state what terms of publication I should prefer, 

 or first ask him to propose terms ? And what do you think 

 would be fair terms for an edition ? Share profits, or what ? 



Lastly, will you be so very kind as to look at the enclosed 

 title and give me your opinion and any criticisms ; you must 

 remember that, if I have health and it appears worth doing, I 

 have a much larger and full book on the same subject nearly 

 ready. 



