l6 PUBLICATION OF THE 'ORIGIN OF SPECIES.' [1859. 



extenso ; if ever I get strong enough I will do so, as the 

 greater part is written out, and of which MS. the present 

 volume is an abstract. 



I fear this note will be almost illegible ; but I am poorly, 

 and can hardly sit up. Farewell ; with thanks for your kind 

 note and pleasant remembrance of good old days. 



Yours very sincerely, 



C. Darwin. 



C. Darwin to A. i?. Wallace. 



Ilkley, November 13th, 1859. 



My dear Sir, — I have told Murray to send you by post 

 (if possible) a copy of my book, and I hope that you will 

 receive it at nearly the same time with this note. (N.B. I 

 have got a bad finger, which makes me write extra badly.) 

 If you are so inclined, I should very much like to hear your 

 general impression of the book, as you have thought so pro- 

 foundly on the subject, and in so nearly the same channel 

 with myself. I hope there will be some little new to you, but 

 I fear not much. Remember it is only an abstract, and very 

 much condensed. God knows what the public will think. No 

 one has read it, except Lyell, with whom I have had much 

 correspondence. Hooker thinks him a complete convert, but 

 he does not seem so in his letters to me ; but is evidently 

 deeply interested in the subject. I do not think your share 

 in the theory will be overlooked by the real judges, as Hooker, 

 Lyell, Asa Gray, &c. I have heard from Mr. Slater that your 

 paper on the Malay Archipelago has been read at the Linnean 

 Society, and that he was extremely much interested by it. 



I have not seen one naturalist for six or nine months, 

 owing to the state of my health, and therefore I really have 

 no news to tell you. I am writing this at Ilkley Wells, where I 

 have been with my family for the last six weeks, and shall 

 stay for some few weeks longer. As yet I have profited very 

 little. God knows when I shall have strength for my bigger 

 book. 



I sincerely hope that you keep your health ; I suppose 



