Ch. XII.] OCTOBER 1859, TO DECEMBER 1859. 209 



you will at least give me credit, however erroneous you 

 may think my conclusions, for having earnestly endeavoured 

 to arrive at the truth. With sincere respect, I beg leave to 

 remain, 



Yours very faithfully. 



He sent copies of the Origin, accompanied by letters similar 

 to the last, to M. De Candolle, Dr. Asa Gray, Falconer and 

 Mr. Jenyns (Blomefield). 



To Henslow he wrote (Nov. 11th, 1859) :— 



" I have told Murray to send a copy of my book on Species 

 to you, my dear old master in Natural History ; I fear, how- 

 ever, that you will not approve of your pupil in this case. The 

 book in its present state does not show the amount of labour 

 which I have bestowed on the subject. 



" If you have time to read it carefully, and would take the 

 trouble to point out what parts seem weakest to you and what 

 best, it would be a most material aid to me in writing my bigger 

 book, which I hope to commence in a few months. You know 

 also how highly I value your judgment. But I am not so un- 

 reasonable as to wish or expect you to write detailed and 

 lengthy criticisms, but merely a few general remarks, pointing 

 out the weakest parts. 



"If you are in ever so slight a degree staggered (which I 

 hardly expect ) on the immutability of species, then I am 

 convinced with further reflection you will become more and 

 more staggered, for this has been the process through which 

 my mind has gone." 



C. D. to A. B. Wallace. Ilkley, November 13th, 1859. 



My dear Sir, — I have told Murray to send you by post (if 

 possible) a copy of my book, and I hope that you will receive 

 it at nearly the same time with this note. (N.B. I have got a 

 bad finger, which makes me write extra badly.) If you are so 

 inclined, I should very much like to hear your general im- 

 pression of the book, as you have thought so profoundly on the 

 subject, and in so nearly the same channel with myself. I 

 hope there will be some little new to you, but I fear not much. 

 Remember it is only an abstract, and very much condensed. 

 God knows what the public will think. No one has read it, 

 except Lyell, with whom I have had much correspondence. 

 Hooker thinks him a complete convert, but he does not seem 

 so in his letters to me ; but is evidently deeply interested in 

 the subject. I do not think your share in the theory will be 



