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



C. Darwin to J. D. Hooker. 



Ilkley, Yorkshire [November, 1859]. 



MY DEAR HOOKER, I cannot help it, I must thank you 

 for your affectionate and most kind note. My head will be 

 turned. By Jove, I must try and get a bit modest. I \vas 



a little chagrined by the review.* I hope it was not . 



As advocate, he might think himself justified in giving the 

 argument only on one side. But the manner in which he 

 drags in immortality, and sets the priests at me, and leaves 

 me to their mercies, is base. He would, on no account, burn 

 me, but he will get the wood ready, and tell the black beasts 

 how to catch me. ... It would be unspeakably grand if 

 Huxley were to lecture on the subject, but I can see this is a 

 mere chance ; Faraday might think it too unorthodox. 



... I had a letter from [Huxley] with such tremendous 

 praise of my book, that modesty (as I am trying to cultivate 

 that difficult herb) prevents me sending it to you, which 

 I should have liked to have done, as he is very modest about 

 himself. 



You have cockered me up to that extent, that I now feel I 

 can face a score of savage reviewers. I suppose you are still 

 with the Lyells. Give my kindest remembrance to them. I 

 triumph to hear that he continues to approve. 



Believe me, your would-be modest friend, 



C. D. 



C. Darwin to C. Lyell. 



Ilkley Wells, Yorkshire, 



November 23rd [1859]. 



MY DEAR LYELL, You seemed to have worked admirably 

 on the species question ; there could not have been a better 



* This refers to the review book, leaves the author to " the 



in the Athenaum, Nov. 19, 1859, mercies of the Divinity Hall, the 



where the reviewer, after touching College, the Lecture Room, and 



on the theological aspects of the the Museum." 



