Cn. IX.] 1831—1844. 171 



In 1844, the pencil-sketch was enlarged to one of 230 folio 

 pages, which is a wonderfully complete presentation of the 

 arguments familiar to us in tho Origin, 



The following letter shows in a striking manner tho value 

 my father put on this piece of work. 



C. D. to Mrs. Darwin. Down [July 5, 1844]. 



... I have just finished my sketch of my species theory. 

 If, as I believe, my theory in time be accepted even by ono 

 competent judge, it will be a considerable step in science. 



I therefore write this in case of my sudden death, as my 

 most solemn and last request, which I am sure you will con- 

 sider the same as if legally entered in my will, that you will 

 devote £400 to its publication, and further, will yourself, or 

 through Hensloigh,* take trouble in promoting it. I wish 

 that my sketch be given to some competent person, with this 

 sum to induce him to take trouble in its improvement and 

 enlargement. I give to him all my books on Natural History, 

 which are either scored or have references at the end to the 

 pages, bogging him carefully to look over and consider such 

 passages as actually bearing, or by possibility bearing, on this 

 subject. I wish you to make a list of all such books as some 

 temptation to an editor. I also request that you will hand 

 over [to] him all those scraps roughly divided in eight or ten 

 brown paper portfolios. The scraps, with copied quotations 

 from various works, are those which may aid my editor. I 

 also request that you, or some amanuensis, will aid in decipher- 

 ing any of the scraps which the editor may think possibly of 

 use. I leave to the editor's judgment whether to interpolate 

 these facts in the text, or as notes, or under appendices. As 

 the looking over the references and scraps will be a long 

 labour, and as the correcting and enlarging and altering my 

 sketch will also take considerable time, I leave this sum of 

 £400 as some remuneration, and any profits from the work. I 

 consider that for this the editor is bound to get the sketch 

 published either at a publisher's or his own risk. Many of 

 the scraps in the portfolios contain mere rude suggestions and 

 early views, now useless, and many of the facts will probably 

 turn out as having no bearing on my theory. 



With respect to editors, Mr. Lyell would be the best if he 

 would undertake it ; I believe he would find the work pleasant, 

 and he would learn some facts new to him. As the editor must 



♦ The late Mr. H. Wedgwood. 



