1 859.] HEALTH. 163 



and then I (or we all) shall start for some months' hydropathy ; 

 my health has been very bad, and I am becoming as weak as a 

 child, and incapable of doing anything whatever, except my 

 three hours daily work at proof-sheets. God knows whether 

 I shall ever be good for anything again, perhaps a long rest 

 and hydropathy may do something. 



I have not had A. Gray's Essay, and should not feel up to 

 criticise it, jBven if I had the impertinence and courage. You 

 will believe me that I speak strictly the truth when I say 

 that your Australian Essay is extremely interesting to me, 

 rather too much so. I enjoy reading it over, and if you think 

 my criticisms are worth anything to you, I beg you to send 

 the sheets (if you can give me time for good days) ; but 

 unless I can render you any little, however little assistance, 

 I would rather read the essay when published. Pray under- 

 stand that I should be truly vexed not to read them, if you 

 wish it for your own sake. 



I had a terribly long fit of sickness yesterday, which makes 

 the world rather extra gloomy to-day, and I have an insanely 

 strong wish to finish my accursed book, such corrections every 

 page has required as I never saw before. It is so weariful 

 killing the whole afternoon, after 12 o'clock doing nothing 

 whatever. But I will grumble no more. So farewell, we 

 shall meet in the winter I trust. 



Farewell, my dear Hooker, your affectionate friend, 



C. DARWIN. 



C Darwin to C. Lyell. 



Down, Sept. 2nd [1859]. 



MY DEAR LYELL, It was very good of you to write about 

 the Flint tools. I feel an uncommon idle curiosity on subject, 



and last night said to E how I should like to write to you 



to inquire ; but refrained not to give you trouble of answering. 

 I shall look with extreme interest to what you say at Aberdeen. 



M 2 



