192 WRITING OF THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES. [Ch. XI. 



C. D. to J. D. Hooker. King's Head Hotel, Sandown, Isle of 

 Wight. July 21st [1858]. 



My dear Hooker — I received only yesterday the proof- 

 sheets, which I now return. I think your introduction cannot 

 he improved. 



I am disgusted with my bad writing. I could not improve 

 it, without rewriting all, which would not be fair or worth 

 while, as I have begun on a better abstract for the Linnean 

 Society. My excuse is that it never was intended for publi- 

 cation. I have made only a few corrections in the style ; 

 but I cannot make it decent, but I hope moderately intelligible. 

 I suppose some one will correct the revise. (Shall I ?) 



Could I have a clean proof to send to Wallace ? 



I have not yet fully considered your remarks on big genera 

 (but your general concurrence is of the highest possible interest 

 to me) ; nor shall I be able till I re-read my MS. ; but you 

 may rely on it that you never make a remark to me which is 

 lost from inattention. I am particularly glad you do not object 

 to my stating your objections in a modified form, for they 

 always struck me as very important, and as having much 

 inherent value, whether or no they were fatal to my notions. 

 I will consider and reconsider all your remarks. . . . 



I am very glad at what you say about my Abstract, but you 

 may rely on it that I will condense to the utmost. I would 

 aid in money if it is too long.* In how many ways you have 

 aided me ! 



Yours affectionately. 



The u Abstract " mentioned in the last sentence of the pre- 

 ceding letter was in fact the Origin of Species, on which he 

 now set to work. In his Autobiography (p. 41) he speaks of 

 beginning to write in September, but in his Diary he wrote, 

 " July 20 to Aug. 12, at Sandown, began Abstract of Species 

 book." M Sep. 16, Recommenced Abstract." The book was 

 begun with the idea that it would be published as a papdr, or 

 series of papers, by the Linnean Society, and it was only in 

 the late autumn that it became clear that it must take the form 

 of an independent volume. 



* That is to say, he would help to pay for the printiDg, if it should 

 prove too long for the Linnean Society. 



