1 859.] PROOF SHEETS FINISHED. l6$ 



intricate ; and I do not think that even you could make them 

 quite clear. Do not, I beg, be in a hurry in committing 

 yourself (like so many naturalists) to go a certain length and 

 no further ; for I am deeply convinced that it is absolutely 

 necessary to go the whole vast length, or stick to the creation 

 of each separate species ; I argue this point briefly in the last 

 chapter. Remember that your verdict will probably have 

 more influence than my book in deciding whether such 

 views as I hold will be admitted or rejected at present ; in 

 the future I cannot doubt about their admittance, and our 

 posterity will marvel as much about the current belief as we 

 do about fossil shells having been thought to have been 

 created as we now see them. But forgive me for running 

 on about my hobby-horse. . . . 



C. Darwin to J. D. Hooker. 



Down, [Sept.] nth [1859]. 



MY DEAR HOOKER, I corrected the last proof yesterday, 

 and I have now my revises, index, &c., which will take me 

 near to the end of the month. So that the neck of my 

 work, thank God, is broken. 



I write now to say that I am uneasy in my conscience 

 about hesitating to look over your proofs, but I was feeling 

 miserably unwell and shattered when I wrote. I do not 

 suppose I could be of hardly any use, but if I could, pray 

 send me any proofs. I should be (and fear I was) the most 

 ungrateful man to hesitate to do anything for you after some 

 fifteen or more years' help from you. 



As soon as ever I have fairly finished I shall be off to Itkley, 

 or some other Hydropathic establishment. But I shall be some 

 time yet, as my proofs have been so utterly obscured with 

 corrections, that I have to correct heavily on revises. 



Murray proposes to publish the first week in November. 

 Oh, good heavens, the relief to my head and body to banish 

 the whole subject from my mind ! 



