172 FOUNDATIONS OF THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES. [Ch. IX. 



be a geologist as well as a naturalist, the next best editor 

 would be Professor Forbes of London. The next best (and 

 quite best in many respects) would be Professor Henslow. Dr. 

 Hooker would be very good. The next, Mr. Strickland.* If 

 none of these would undertake it, I would request you to 

 consult with Mr. Lyell, or some other capable man for some 

 editor, a geologist and naturalist. Should one other hundred 

 pounds make the difference of procuring a good editor, I 

 request earnestly that you will raise £500. 



My remaining collections in Natural History may be given 

 to any one or any museum where [they] would be accepted. . . . 



The following note seems to have formed part of the 

 original letter, but may have been of later date : 



" Lyell, especially with the aid of Hooker (and of any good 

 zoological aid), would be best of all. Without an editor will 

 pledge himself to give up time to it, it would be of no use 

 paying such a sum." 



"It* there should be any difficulty in getting an editor who 

 would go thoroughly into the subject, and think of the bearing 

 of the passages marked in the books and copied out [on ?] scraps 

 of paper, then let my sketch be published as it is, stating that 

 it was done several years agof and from memory without 

 consulting any works, and with no intention of publication in 

 its present form." 



The idea that the Sketch of 1844= might remain, in the event 

 cf his death, as the only record of his work, seems to have 

 been long in his mind, for in August 1854, when he had 

 finished with the Cirripedes, and was thinking of beginning 

 his " species work," he added on the back of the above letter, 

 " Hooker by far best man to edit my species volume. August 

 1851." 



* After Mr. Strickland's name comes the following sentence, which 

 has been erased, but remains legible : " Professor Owen would be very 

 good ; but I presume he would not undertake such a work." 



t The words "several years ago and," seem to have been added at a 

 later date. 



