1859-] PLANS FOR PUBLICATION. 4Qg 



and the Cape, I am shut up, and can only d — n the whole 

 case. 



. . . You say you should like to see my MS., but you did 

 read and approve of my long Glacial chapter, and I have not 

 yet written my Abstract on the whole of the Geographical 

 Distribution, nor shall I begin it for two or three weeks. 

 But either Abstract or the old MS. I should be delighted to 

 send you, especially the Abstract chapter. . . . 



I have now written 330 folio pages of my abstract, and it 

 will require 150-200 ; so that it will make a printed volume 

 of 400 pages, and must be printed separately, which I think 

 will be better in many respects. The subject really seems to 

 me too large for discussion at any Society, and I believe 

 religion would be brought in by men whom I know. 



I am thinking of a i2mo volume, like Ly ell's fourth or 

 fifth edition of the ' Principles.' . . . 



I have written you a scandalously long note. So now 

 good bye, my dear Hooker, 



Ever yours, 



C. Darwin, 



C. Darwin to J. D. HooJzer. 



Down, Jan. 20th, 1859. 



My dear Hooker, — I should very much like to borrow 

 Heer at some future time, for I want to read nothing per- 

 plexing at present till my Abstract is done. Your last very 

 instructive letter shall make me very cautious on the hyper- 

 speculative points we have been discussing. 



When you say you cannot master the train of thoughts, 

 I know well enough that they are too doubtful and obscure 

 to be mastered. I have often experienced what you call the 

 humiliating feeling of getting more and more involved m 

 doubt the more one thinks of the facts and reasoning on 

 doubtful points. But I always comfort myself with thinking 

 of the future, and in the full belief that the problems which 

 we are just entering on, will some day be solved ; and if we 



