50 PUBLICATION OF THE 'ORIGIN OF SPECIES.' [1859. 



offered of giving the book a fair chance with the multitudi- 

 nous readers of the Times to make any difficulty about condi- 

 tions; and being then very full of the subject, I wrote the 

 article faster, I think, than I ever wrote anything in my life, 

 and sent it to Mr. Lucas, who duly prefixed his opening 

 sentences. 



" When the article appeared, there was much speculation 

 as to its authorship. The secret leaked out in time, as all 

 secrets will, but not by my aid ; and then I used to derive a 

 good deal of innocent amusement from the vehement asser- 

 tions of some of my more acute friends, that they knew it 

 was mine from the first paragraph ! 



" As the Times some years since, referred to my connec- 

 tion with the review, I suppose there will be no breach of 

 confidence in the publication of this little history, if you think 

 it worth the space it will occupy."] 



