Ch. X.] 1843—1858. 181 



Wallace's MS. During the two years which we aie now con- 

 sidering, he wrote ten chapters (that is about one-half) of the 

 projected book. 



C. D. to J. D. Hooker. May 9th [1856]. 



... I very much want advice and truthful consolation if 

 you can give it. I had a good talk with Lyell about my species 

 work, and he urges me strongly to publish something. I am 

 fixed against any periodical or Journal, as I positively will not 

 expose myself to an Editor or a Council allowing a publication 

 for which they might be abused. If I publish anything it 

 must be a very thin and little volume, giving a sketch of my 

 views and difficulties ; but it is really dreadfully unphilo- 

 sophical to give a resumS, without exact references, of an 

 unpublished work. But Lyell seemed to think I might do 

 this, at the suggestion of friends, and on the ground, which I 

 I might state, that I had been at work for eighteen * years, 

 and yet could not publish for several years, and especially as 

 I could point out difficulties which seemed to me to require 

 especial investigation. Now what think you? I should be 

 really grateful for advice. I thought of giving up a couple of 

 months and writing such a sketch, and trying to keep my 

 judgment open whether or no to publish it when completed. 

 It will be simply impossible for me to give exact references ; 

 anything important I should state on the authority of the 

 author generally ; and instead of giving all the facts on which 

 I ground my opinion, I could give by memory only one or 

 two. In the Preface I would state that the work could not 

 bo considered strictly scientific, but a mere sketch or outline 

 of a future work in which full references, &o., should be 

 given. Eheu, eheu, I believe I should sneer at any one else 

 doing this, and my only comfort is, that I truly never dreamed 

 of it, till' Lyell suggested it, and seems deliberately to think 

 it advisable. 



I am in a peck of troubles, and do pray forgive me for 

 troubling you. 



Yours affectionately. 



He made an attempt at a sketch of his views, but as he wrote 

 to Fox in October 1856 :— 



" I found it such unsatisfactory work that I have desisted, 



* The interval of eighteen years, from 1837 when he began to collect 

 facts, would bring the date of this letter to 1855, not 1856, nevertheleatt 

 the latter seems the more probable date. 



