1859-] LOST MANUSCRIPT. jU 



It may be conceit, but I believe the subject will interest 

 the public, and I am sure that the views are original. If you 

 think otherwise, I must repeat my request that you will freely 

 reject my work ; and though I shall be a little disappointed, I 

 shall be in no way injured. 



If you choose to read Chapters II. and III., you will have 

 a dull and rather abstruse chapter, and a plain and interesting 

 one, in my opinion. 



As soon as you have done with the MS., please to send it 

 by careful messenger^ and plainly directed^ to Miss G. Tollett, 

 14, Queen Anne Street, Cavendish Square. 



This lady, being an excellent judge of style, is going to look 

 out for errors for me. 



You must take your own time, but the sooner you finish, 

 the sooner she will, and the sooner I shall get to press, which 

 I so earnestly wish. 



I presume you will wish to see Chapter IV., the key-stone 

 of my arch, and Chapters X. and XI., but please to inform 

 me on this head. 



My dear Sir, yours sincerely, 



C. Darwin. 



C. Darwin to J. D. Hooker. 



Down, April nth [1859]. 



... I write one line to say that I heard from Murray 

 yesterday, and he says he has read the first three chapters of 

 one MS. (and this includes a very dull one, and he abides by 

 his offer). Hence he does not want more MS., and you can 

 send my Geographical chapter when it pleases you. . . . 



[Part of the MS. seems to have been lost on its way back 

 to my father; he wrote (April 14) to Sir J. D. Hooker :] 



'' I have the old MS., otherwise, the loss would have killed 

 me ! The worst is now that it will cause delay in getting to 

 press, and far worst of all, lose all advantage of your having 



