On. XL] 1858—1859. 197 



first ask him to propose terms ? And what do you think would 1 

 be fair terms for an edition ? Share profits, or what ? 



Lastly, will you bo so very kind as to look at the enclosed 

 title and give me your opinion and any criticisms ; you must 

 remember that, if I have health, and it appears worth doing, I 

 have a much larger and full book on the same subject nearly 

 ready. 



My Abstract will be about five hundred pages of the size 

 of your first edition of the Elements of Geology. 



Pray forgive me troubling you with the above queries ; and 

 you shall have no more trouble on the subject. I hope the 

 world goes well with you, and that you are getting on with 

 your various works. 



I am working very hard for me, and long to finish and be 

 free and try to recover some health. 



My dear Lyell, ever yours. 



P.S. — Would you advise me to tell Murray that my book is 

 not more Mw-orthodox than the subject makes inevitable. That 

 I do not discuss the origin of man. That I do not bring in 

 any discussion about Genesis, &c. &c, and only give facts, and 

 such conclusions from them as seem to me fair. 



Or had I better say nothing to Murray, and assume that he 

 cannot object to this much unorthodoxy, which in fact is not 

 more than any Geological Treatise which runs slap counter to 

 Genesis. 



Enclosure. 



AN ABSTBACT OF AN ESSAY 



ON THE 



ORIGIN 



SPECIES AND VARIETIES 



THROUGH NATURAL SELECTION 



