454 THE UNFINISHED BOOK. [1857. 



of variation in a state of nature ; but I have slowly adopted a 

 distinct and tangible idea, — whether true or false others must 

 judge ; for the firmest conviction of the truth of a doctrine by 

 its author, seems, alas, not to be the slightest guarantee of 

 truth ! . . . 



C Darwin to J. D. Hooker, 



Moor Park, Saturday [May 2nd, 1857J. 



My dear Hooker, — You have shaved the hair off the 

 Alpine plants pretty effectually. The case of the Anthyllis 

 will make a '' tie " with the believed case of Pyrenees plants 

 becoming glabrous at low levels. If I do find that I have 

 marked such facts, I will lay the evidence before you. I 

 wonder how the belief could have originated ! Was it through 

 final causes to keep the plants warm ? Falconer in talk 

 coupled the two facts of woolly Alpine plants and mammals. 

 How candidly and meekly you took my Jeremiad on your 

 severity to second-class men. After I had sent it off, an ugly 

 little voice asked me, once or twice, hov/ much of my noble 

 defence of the poor in spirit and in fact, was owing to your 

 having not seldom sfnashed favourite notions of my own. I 

 silenced the ugly little voice with contempt, but it would 

 whisper again and again. I sometimes despise myself as a 

 poor compiler as heartily as you could do, though I do ftot 

 despise my whole work, as I think there is enough known to 

 lay a foundation for the discussion on the origin of species. 

 I have been led to despise and laugh at myself as a compiler, 

 for having put down that " Alpine plants have large flowers," 

 and now perhaps I may write over these very words, " Alpine 

 plants have small or apetalous flowers ! " . . . 



C. Darwin to J. D. Hooker. 



Down, [May] i6th [1857]. 

 My dear Hooker, — You said — I hope honestly — that 

 you did not dislike my asking questions on general points, 

 you of course answering or not as time or inclination might 



