I859-J FOX. CARPENTER. r ~ 



that you will be thinking of returning * soon with your mag- 

 nificent collections, and still grander mental materials. You 

 will be puzzled how to publish. The Royal Society fund will 

 be worth your consideration. With every good wish, pray 

 believe me, Yours very sincerely, 



CHARLES DARWIN. 



P. S. I think that I told you before that Hooker is a com- 

 plete convert. If I can convert Huxley I shall be content. 



C. Darwin to W. D. Fox. 



Ilkley, Yorkshire, 

 Wednesday [November i6th, 1859]. 



I like the place very much, and the children 



have enjoyed it much, and it has done my wife good. It 

 did H. good at first, but she has gone back again. I have 

 had a series of calamities ; first a sprained ankle, and then a 

 badly swollen whole leg and face, much rash, and a frightful 

 succession of boils four or five at once. I have felt quite 

 ill, and have little faith in this " unique crisis," as the doctor 



calls it, doing me much good You will probably 



have received, or will very soon receive, my weariful book on 

 species. I naturally believe it mainly includes the truth, but 

 you will not at all agree with me. Dr. Hooker, whom I con- 

 sider one of the best judges in Europe, is a complete con- 

 vert, and he thinks Lyell is likewise ; certainly, judging from 

 Lyell's letters to me on the subject, he is deeply staggered. 

 Farewell. If the spirit moves you, let me have a line. . . . 



C. Darwin to W. B. Carpenter. 



Ilkley, Yorkshire, 



November i8th [1859]. 



MY DEAR CARPENTER, I must thank you for your letter 

 on my own account, and if I know myself, still more warmly 

 for the subject's sake. As you seem to have understood my 



* Mr. Wallace was in the Malay Archipelago. 



