i857.j LARGE GENERA VARYING. 461 



C. Darwin to J. D. Hooker. 



July 14th [1857?]. 



... I write now to supplicate most earnestly a favour, 

 viz., the loan of Boreau^ Flore dit centre de la France^ either 

 1st or 2nd edition^ last best ; also ^' Flora Ratisbonensis," by 

 Dr. Fiirnrohr, in * Naturhist. Topographie von Regensburg, 

 1839.' If you cdiXi possibly spare them, will you send them at 

 once to the enclosed address. If you have not them, will 

 you send one line by return of post : as I must try whether 

 Kippist * can anyhow find them, which I fear will be nearly 

 impossible in the Linnean Library, in which I know they are. 



I have been making some calculations about varieties, &c., 

 and talking yesterday with Lubbock, he has pointed out to 

 me the grossest blunder which I have made in principle, and 

 which entails two or three weeks' lost work ; and I am at a 

 dead-lock till I have these books to go over again, and see 

 what the result of calculation on the right principle is. I am 

 the most miserable, bemuddled, stupid dog in all England, 

 and am ready to cry with vexation at my blindness and 

 presumption. 



Ever yours, most miserably, 



C. Darwin. 



C. Darwin to John Lubbock. 



Down, [July] 14th [1857]. 



My dear Lubbock, — You have done me the greatest 

 possible service in helping me to clarify my brains. If I am 

 as muzzy on all subjects as I am on proportion ajid chance, 

 — what a book I shall produce ! 



I have divided the New Zealand Flora as you suggested. 

 There are 329 species in genera of 4 and upwards, and 323 in 

 genera of 3 and less. 



*The late Mr. Kippist was at this time in charge of the Linnean 

 Society's Library. 



