I359-] HEAVY CORRECTIONS. 



C. Darwin to C. Lyell. 



Down, Sept. 2nd [1859]. 



... I am very glad you wish to see my clean sheets : 1 

 should have offered them, but did not know whether it would 

 bore you ; I wrote by this morning's post to Murray to send 

 them. Unfortunately I have not got ta the part which will 

 interest you, I think most, and which tells most in favour of 

 the view, viz., Geological Succession, Geographical Distri- 

 bution, and especially Morphology, Embryology and Rudi- 

 mentary Organs. I will see that the remaining sheets, when 

 printed off, are sent to you. But would you like for me to 

 send the last and perfect revises of the sheets as I correct 

 them ? if so, send me your address in a blank envelope. I 

 hope that you will read all, whether dull (especially latter 

 part of Chapter II.) or not, for I am convinced there is not 

 a sentence which has not a bearing on the whole argument. 

 You will find Chapter IV. perplexing and unintelligible, with- 

 out the aid of the enclosed queer diagram,* of which I send 

 an old and useless proof. I have, as Murray says, corrected 

 so heavily, as almost to have re-written it ; but yet I fear it is 

 poorly written. Parts are intricate ; and I do not think that 

 even you could make them quite clear. Do not, I beg, be in 

 a hurry in committing yourself (like so many naturalists) to 

 go a certain length and no further ; for I am deeply con- 

 vinced that it is absolutely necessary to go the whole vast 

 length, or stick to the creation of each separate species ; I 

 argue this point briefly in the last chapter. Remember that 

 your verdict will probably have more influence than my book 

 in deciding whether such views as I hold will be admitted or 

 rejected at present ; in the future I cannot doubt about their 

 admittance, and our posterity will marvel as much about the 

 current belief as we do about fossil shells having been thought 

 to have been created as we now see them. But forgive me 

 for running on about my hobby-horse. . . . 



* The diagram illustrates descent with divergence. 

 34 



