I859-] GERMAN EDITION. 3 1 



' Origin of Species ' has failed in getting a publisher. 

 Balliere, Masson, and Hachette all rejected it with con- 

 tempt. It was foolish and presumptuous in me, hoping to 

 appear in a French dress; but the idea would not have en- 

 tered my head had it not b^en suggested to me. It is a 

 great loss. I must console myself with the German edition 

 which Prof. Bronn is bringing out." * 



A sentence in another letter to M. de Quatrefages shows 

 how anxious he was to convert one of the greatest of con- 

 temporary Zoologists : " How I should like to know whether 

 Milne Edwards had read the copy which I sent him, and 

 whether he thinks I have made a pretty good case on our 

 side of the question. There is no naturalist in the world for 

 whose opinion I have so profound a respect. Of course I 

 am not so silly as to expect to change his opinion."] 



C. Darwin to C. Lyell. 



Ilkley, [November 26th, 1859]. 



MY DEAR LYELL, I have received your letter of the 

 24th. It is no use trying to thank you ; your kindness is 

 beyond thanks. I will certainly leave out the whale and 

 bear . . . 



The edition was 1250 copies. When I was in spirits, I 

 sometimes fancied that my book would be successful, but I 

 never even built a castle in the air of such success as it has 

 met with ; I do not mean the sale, but the impression it has 

 made on you (whom I have always looked at as chief judge) 

 and Hooker and Huxley. The whole has infinitely exceed 

 ed my wildest hopes. 



Farewell, I am tired, for I have been going over the 

 sheets. 



My kind friend, farewell, yours, 



C. DARWIN. 



* See letters to Bronn, p. 70. 



