i358.] THE 'ABSTRACT.' 487 



Could I have a clean proof to send to AVallace ? 



I have not yet fully considered your remarks on big genera 

 (but your general concurrence is of the highest possible inter- 

 est to me) ; nor shall I be able till I re-read my MS. ; but 

 you may rely on it that you never make a remark to me which 

 is lost from inattention. I am particularly glad you do not 

 object to my stating your objections in a modified form, for 

 they always struck me as very important, and as having much 

 inherent value, whether or no they were fatal to my notions. 

 I will consider and reconsider all your remarks. . . . 



I have ordered Bentham, for, as says, it will be very 



curious to see a Flora written by a man who knows nothing 

 of British plants ! ! 



I am very glad at what you say about my Abstract, but 

 you may rely on it that I will condense to the utmost. I 

 would aid in money if it is too long.* In how many ways 

 you have aided me ! 



Yours affectionately, 



C. Darwin. 



[The ' Abstract ' mentioned in the last sentence of the pre- 

 ceding letter was in fact the * Origin of Species,' on which he 

 now set to work. In his ' Autobiography ' (p. 70) he speaks 

 of beginning to write in September, but in his Diary he wrote, 

 "July 20 to Aug. 12, at Sandown, began Abstract of Species 

 book." "Sep. 16, Recommenced Abstract." The book was 

 begun with the idea that it would be published as a paper, or 

 series of papers, by the Linnean Society, and it was only in 

 the late autumn that it became clear that it must take the 

 form of an independent volume.] 



* That is to say, he would help to pay for the printing, if it should 

 prove too long for the Linnean Society. 



