474 THE WRITING OF THE 'ORIGIN OF SPECIES.' [1858. 



C. Darwin to C. Lyell. 



Down, Friday [June 25, 1858]. 



My dear Lyell, — I am very sorry to trouble you, busy 

 as you are, in so merely a personal an affair ; but if you will 

 give me your deliberate opinion, you will do me as great a 

 service as ever man did, for I have entire confidence in your 

 judgment and honour 



There is nothing in Wallace's sketch which is not written 

 out much fuller in my sketch, copied out in 1844, and read 

 by Hooker some dozen years ago. About a year ago I sent 

 a short sketch, of which I have a copy, of my views (owing 

 to correspondence on several points) to Asa Gray, so that 

 I could most truly say and prove that I take nothing from 

 Wallace. I should be extremely glad now to publish a sketch 

 of my general views in about a dozen pages or so ; but I can- 

 not persuade myself that I can do so honourably. Wallace 

 says nothing about publication, and I enclose his letter. But 

 as I had not intended to publish any sketch, can I do so hon- 

 ourably, because Wallace has sent me an outline of his doc- 

 trine } I would far rather burn my whole book, than that he 

 or any other man should think that I had behaved in a paltry 

 spirit. Do you not think his having sent me this sketch ties 

 my hands ? ... If I could honourably publish, I would state 

 that I was induced now to publish a sketch (and I should be 

 very glad to be permitted to say, to follow your advice long 

 ago given) from Wallace having sent me an outline of my 

 general conclusions. We differ only, [in] that I was led to 

 my views from what artificial selection has done for domestic 

 animals. I would send Wallace a copy of my letter to Asa 

 Gray, to show him that I had not stolen his doctrine. But I 

 cannot tell whether to publish now would not be base and 

 paltry. This was my first impression, and I should have 

 certainly acted on it had it not been for your letter. 



This is a trumpery affair to trouble you with, but you can- 

 not tell how much obliged I should be for your advice. 



By the way, would you object to send this and your an- 



