CHAPTER1。XIII。
　　THEWRITINGOFTHE’ORIGINOFSPECIES。’
　　JUNE18，1858，TONOVEMBER，1859。
　　[Thelettersgiveninthepresentchaptertelltheirstorywithsufficientclearness，andneedbutafewwordsofexplanation。Mr。Wallace’sEssay，referredtointhefirstletter，borethesub—title，’OntheTendencyofVarietiestodepartindefinitelyfromtheOriginalType，’waspublishedintheLinneanSociety’sJournal（1858，volumeiii。page53）aspartofthejointpaperof"Messrs。C。DarwinandA。Wallace，"ofwhichthefulltitlewas’OntheTendencyofSpeciestoformVarieties;andonthePerpetuationofVarietiesandSpeciesbyNaturalMeansofSelection。’
　　Myfather’scontributiontothepaperconsistedof（1）Extractsfromthesketchof1844;（2）partofaletteraddressedtoDrAsaGray，datedSeptember5，1857，andwhichisgivenabove。Thepaperwas"communicated"
　　totheSocietybySirCharlesLyellandSirJosephHooker，inwhoseprefatoryletter，aclearaccountofthecircumstancesofthecaseisgiven。
　　ReferringtoMr。Wallace’sEssay，theywrote:
　　"SohighlydidMr。Darwinappreciatethevalueoftheviewsthereinsetforth，thatheproposed，inalettertoSirCharlesLyell，toobtainMr。
　　Wallace’sconsenttoallowtheEssaytobepublishedassoonaspossible。
　　Ofthisstepwehighlyapproved，providedMr。Darwindidnotwithholdfromthepublic，ashewasstronglyinclinedtodo（infavourofMr。Wallace），thememoirwhichhehadhimselfwrittenonthesamesubject，andwhich，asbeforestated，oneofushadperusedin1844，andthecontentsofwhichwehadbothofusbeenprivytoformanyyears。OnrepresentingthistoMr。
　　Darwin，hegaveuspermissiontomakewhatusewethoughtproperofhismemoir，etc。;andinadoptingourpresentcourse，ofpresentingittotheLinneanSociety，wehaveexplainedtohimthatwearenotsolelyconsideringtherelativeclaimstopriorityofhimselfandhisfriend，buttheinterestsofsciencegenerally。"]
　　LETTERS。
　　CHARLESDARWINTOC。LYELL。
　　Down，18th[June1858]。
　　MydearLyell，SomeyearorsoagoyourecommendedmetoreadapaperbyWallaceinthe’Annals’（’AnnalsandMagazineofNaturalHistory’，1855。），whichhadinterestedyou，and，asIwaswritingtohim，Iknewthiswouldpleasehimmuch，soItoldhim。Hehasto—daysentmetheenclosed，andaskedmetoforwardittoyou。Itseemstomewellworthreading。Yourwordshavecometruewithavengeance——thatIshouldbeforestalled。Yousaidthis，whenIexplainedtoyouhereverybrieflymyviewsof’NaturalSelection’
　　dependingonthestruggleforexistence。Ineversawamorestrikingcoincidence;ifWallacehadmyMS。sketchwrittenoutin1842，hecouldnothavemadeabettershortabstract！Evenhistermsnowstandasheadsofmychapters。PleasereturnmetheMS。，whichhedoesnotsayhewishesmetopublish，butIshallofcourse，atoncewriteandoffertosendtoanyjournal。Soallmyoriginality，whateveritmayamountto，willbesmashed，thoughmybook，ifitwilleverhaveanyvalue，willnotbedeteriorated;asallthelabourconsistsintheapplicationofthetheory。
　　IhopeyouwillapproveofWallace’ssketch，thatImaytellhimwhatyousay。
　　MydearLyell，yoursmosttruly，C。DARWIN。
　　CHARLESDARWINTOC。LYELL。
　　Down，Friday[June25，1858]。
　　MydearLyell，Iamverysorrytotroubleyou，busyasyouare，insomerelyapersonalanaffair;butifyouwillgivemeyourdeliberateopinion，youwilldomeasgreataserviceasevermandid，forIhaveentireconfidenceinyourjudgmentandhonour……
　　ThereisnothinginWallace’ssketchwhichisnotwrittenoutmuchfullerinmysketch，copiedoutin1844，andreadbyHookersomedozenyearsago。
　　AboutayearagoIsentashortsketch，ofwhichIhaveacopy，ofmyviews（owingtocorrespondenceonseveralpoints）toAsaGray，sothatIcouldmosttrulysayandprovethatItakenothingfromWallace。Ishouldbeextremelygladnowtopublishasketchofmygeneralviewsinaboutadozenpagesorso;butIcannotpersuademyselfthatIcandosohonourably。
　　Wallacesaysnothingaboutpublication，andIenclosehisletter。ButasI
　　hadnotintendedtopublishanysketch，canIdosohonourably，becauseWallacehassentmeanoutlineofhisdoctrine？Iwouldfarratherburnmywholebook，thanthatheoranyothermanshouldthinkthatIhadbehavedinapaltryspirit。Doyounotthinkhishavingsentmethissketchtiesmyhands？……IfIcouldhonourablypublish，IwouldstatethatIwasinducednowtopublishasketch（andIshouldbeverygladtobepermittedtosay，tofollowyouradvicelongagogiven）fromWallacehavingsentmeanoutlineofmygeneralconclusions。Wedifferonly，[in]thatIwasledtomyviewsfromwhatartificialselectionhasdonefordomesticanimals。I
　　wouldsendWallaceacopyofmylettertoAsaGray，toshowhimthatIhadnotstolenhisdoctrine。ButIcannottellwhethertopublishnowwouldnotbebaseandpaltry。Thiswasmyfirstimpression，andIshouldhavecertainlyactedonithaditnotbeenforyourletter。
　　Thisisatrumperyaffairtotroubleyouwith，butyoucannottellhowmuchobligedIshouldbeforyouradvice。
　　Bytheway，wouldyouobjecttosendthisandyouranswertoHookertobeforwardedtome，forthenIshallhavetheopinionofmytwobestandkindestfriends。Thisletterismiserablywritten，andIwriteitnow，thatImayforatimebanishthewholesubject;andIamwornoutwithmusing……
　　Mygooddearfriendforgiveme。Thisisatrumperyletter，influencedbytrumperyfeelings。
　　Yoursmosttruly，C。DARWIN。
　　IwillnevertroubleyouorHookeronthesubjectagain。
　　CHARLESDARWINTOC。LYELL。
　　Down，26th[June，1858]。
　　MydearLyell，ForgivemeforaddingaP。S。tomakethecaseasstrongaspossibleagainstmyself。
　　Wallacemightsay，"Youdidnotintendpublishinganabstractofyourviewstillyoureceivedmycommunication。Isitfairtotakeadvantageofmyhavingfreely，thoughunasked，communicatedtoyoumyideas，andthuspreventmeforestallingyou？"TheadvantagewhichIshouldtakebeingthatIaminducedtopublishfromprivatelyknowingthatWallaceisinthefield。ItseemshardonmethatIshouldbethuscompelledtolosemypriorityofmanyyears’standing，butIcannotfeelatallsurethatthisaltersthejusticeofthecase。Firstimpressionsaregenerallyright，andIatfirstthoughtitwouldbedishonourableinmenowtopublish。
　　Yoursmosttruly，C。DARWIN。
　　P。S。——Ihavealwaysthoughtyouwouldmakeafirst—rateLordChancellor;
　　andInowappealtoyouasaLordChancellor。
　　CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
　　Down，Tuesday[June29，1858]……Ihavereceivedyourletters。Icannotthinknow（Sosoonafterthedeath，fromscarletfever，ofhisinfantchild。）onthesubject，butsoonwill。ButIcanseethatyouhaveactedwithmorekindness，andsohasLyell，eventhanIcouldhaveexpectedfromyouboth，mostkindasyouare。
　　IcaneasilygetmylettertoAsaGraycopied，butitistooshort……Godblessyou。Youshallhearsoon，assoonasIcanthink。
　　Yoursaffectionately，C。DARWIN。
　　CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
　　Tuesdaynight[June29，1858]。
　　MydearHooker，Ihavejustreadyourletter，andseeyouwantthepapersatonce。Iamquiteprostrated，andcandonothing，butIsendWallace，andtheabstract（"Abstract"ishereusedinthesenseof"extract;"inthissensealsoitoccursinthe’LinneanJournal，’wherethesourcesofmyfather’spaperaredescribed。）ofmylettertoAsaGray，whichgivesmostimperfectlyonlythemeansofchange，anddoesnottouchonreasonsforbelievingthatspeciesdochange。Idaresayallistoolate。Ihardlycareaboutit。Butyouaretoogeneroustosacrificesomuchtimeandkindness。Itismostgenerous，mostkind。Isendmysketchof1844solelythatyoumayseebyyourownhandwritingthatyoudidreadit。Ireallycannotbeartolookatit。Donotwastemuchtime。Itismiserableinmetocareatallaboutpriority。
　　Thetableofcontentswillshowwhatitis。
　　Iwouldmakeasimilar，butshorterandmoreaccuratesketchforthe’LinneanJournal。’
　　Iwilldoanything。Godblessyou，mydearkindfriend。
　　Icanwritenomore。IsendthisbymyservanttoKew。
　　Yours，C。DARWIN。
　　[ThefollowingletteristhatalreadyreferredtoasformingpartofthejointpaperpublishedintheLinneanSociety’s’Journal，’1858]:——
　　CHARLESDARWINTOASAGRAY。
　　Down，September5th[1857]。（ThedateisgivenasOctoberinthe’LinneanJournal。’Theextractswereprintedfromaduplicateundatedcopyinmyfather’spossession，onwhichhehadwritten，"ThiswassenttoAsaGray8
　　or9monthsago，IthinkOctober1857。"）
　　MydearGray，IforgettheexactwordswhichIusedinmyformerletter，butIdaresayI
　　saidthatIthoughtyouwouldutterlydespisemewhenItoldyouwhatviewsIhadarrivedat，whichIdidbecauseIthoughtIwasboundasanhonestmantodoso。Ishouldhavebeenastrangemortal，seeinghowmuchIowetoyourquiteextraordinarykindness，ifinsayingthisIhadmeanttoattributetheleastbadfeelingtoyou。Permitmetotellyouthat，beforeIhadevercorrespondedwithyou，Hookerhadshownmeseveralofyourletters（notofaprivatenature），andthesegavemethewarmestfeelingofrespecttoyou;andIshouldindeedbeungratefulifyourletterstome，andallIhaveheardofyou，hadnotstronglyenhancedthisfeeling。ButI
　　didnotfeelintheleastsurethatwhenyouknewwhitherIwastending，thatyoumightnotthinkmesowildandfoolishinmyviews（Godknows，arrivedatslowlyenough，andIhopeconscientiously），thatyouwouldthinkmeworthnomorenoticeorassistance。Togiveoneexample:thelasttimeIsawmydearoldfriendFalconer，heattackedmemostvigorously，butquitekindly，andtoldme，"YouwilldomoreharmthananytenNaturalistswilldogood。IcanseethatyouhavealreadyCORRUPTEDandhalf—spoiledHooker！！"NowwhenIseesuchstrongfeelinginmyoldestfriends，youneednotwonderthatIalwaysexpectmyviewstobereceivedwithcontempt。
　　Butenoughandtoomuchofthis。
　　Ithankyoumosttrulyforthekindspiritofyourlastletter。Iagreetoeverywordinit，andthinkIgoasfarasalmostanyoneinseeingthegravedifficultiesagainstmydoctrine。WithrespecttotheextenttowhichIgo，alltheargumentsinfavourofmynotionsfallRAPIDLYaway，thegreaterthescopeofformsconsidered。Butinanimals，embryologyleadsmetoanenormousandfrightfulrange。Thefactswhichkeptmelongestscientificallyorthodoxarethoseofadaptation——thepollen—massesinasclepias——themistletoe，withitspollencarriedbyinsects，andseedbybirds——thewoodpecker，withitsfeetandtail，beakandtongue，toclimbthetreeandsecureinsects。TotalkofclimateorLamarckianhabitproducingsuchadaptationstootherorganicbeingsisfutile。ThisdifficultyIbelieveIhavesurmounted。Asyouseeminterestedinthesubject，andasitisanIMMENSEadvantagetometowritetoyouandtohear，eversobriefly，whatyouthink，Iwillenclose（copied，soastosaveyoutroubleinreading）thebriefestabstractofmynotionsonthemeansbywhichNaturemakesherspecies。WhyIthinkthatspecieshavereallychanged，dependsongeneralfactsintheaffinities，embryology，rudimentaryorgans，geologicalhistory，andgeographicaldistributionoforganicbeings。InregardtomyAbstract，youmusttakeimmenselyontrust，eachparagraphoccupyingoneortwochaptersinmybook。Youwill，perhaps，thinkitpaltryinme，whenIaskyounottomentionmydoctrine;
　　thereasonis，ifanyone，liketheauthorofthe’Vestiges，’weretohearofthem，hemighteasilyworkthemin，andthenIshouldhavetoquotefromaworkperhapsdespisedbynaturalists，andthiswouldgreatlyinjureanychanceofmyviewsbeingreceivedbythosealonewhoseopinionsIvalue。
　　[Herefollowsadiscussionon"largegeneravarying，"whichhasnodirectconnectionwiththeremainderoftheletter。]
　　I。ItiswonderfulwhattheprincipleofSelectionbyMan，thatisthepickingoutofindividualswithanydesiredquality，andbreedingfromthem，andagainpickingout，cando。Evenbreedershavebeenastonishedattheirownresults。Theycanactondifferencesinappreciabletoanuneducatedeye。SelectionhasbeenMETHODICALLYfollowedinEuropeforonlythelasthalfcentury。Butithasoccasionally，andeveninsomedegreemethodically，beenfollowedinthemostancienttimes。Theremusthavebeenalsoakindofunconsciousselectionfromthemostancienttimes，namely，inthepreservationoftheindividualanimals（withoutanythoughtoftheiroffspring）mostusefultoeachraceofmaninhisparticularcircumstances。The"roguing，"asnursery—mencallthedestroyingofvarieties，whichdepartfromtheirtype，isakindofselection。Iamconvincedthatintentionalandoccasionalselectionhasbeenthemainagentinmakingourdomesticraces。But，howeverthismaybe，itsgreatpowerofmodificationhasbeenindisputedlyshowninlatetimes。Selectionactsonlybytheaccumulationofveryslightorgreatervariations，causedbyexternalconditions，orbythemerefactthatingenerationthechildisnotabsolutelysimilartoitsparent。Man，bythispowerofaccumulatingvariations，adaptslivingbeingstohiswants——heMAYBESAIDtomakethewoolofonesheepgoodforcarpets，andanotherforcloth，etc。
　　II。Now，supposetherewasabeing，whodidnotjudgebymereexternalappearance，butcouldstudythewholeinternalorganisation——whoneverwascapricious——whoshouldgoonselectingforoneendduringmillionsofgenerations，whowillsaywhathemightnoteffect！InnaturewehavesomeSLIGHTvariations，occasionallyinallparts:andIthinkitcanbeshownthatachangeintheconditionsofexistenceisthemaincauseofthechildnotexactlyresemblingitsparents;andinnature，geologyshowsuswhatchangeshavetakenplace，andaretakingplace。Wehavealmostunlimitedtime:noonebutapracticalgeologistcanfullyappreciatethis:thinkoftheGlacialperiod，duringthewholeofwhichthesamespeciesofshellsatleasthaveexisted;theremusthavebeenduringthisperiod，millionsonmillionsofgenerations。
　　III。Ithinkitcanbeshownthatthereissuchanunerringpoweratwork，orNATURALSELECTION（thetitleofmybook），whichselectsexclusivelyforthegoodofeachorganicbeing。TheelderDeCandolle，W。Herbert，andLyell，havewrittenstronglyonthestruggleforlife;buteventheyhavenotwrittenstronglyenough。Reflectthateverybeing（eventheelephant）
　　breedsatsucharatethat，inafewyears，oratmostafewcenturiesorthousandsofyears，thesurfaceoftheearthwouldnotholdtheprogenyofanyonespecies。Ihavefoundithardconstantlytobearinmindthattheincreaseofeverysinglespeciesischeckedduringsomepartofitslife，orduringsomeshortlyrecurrentgeneration。Onlyafewofthoseannuallyborncanlivetopropagatetheirkind。Whatatriflingdifferencemustoftendeterminewhichshallsurviveandwhichperish。
　　IV。Nowtakethecaseofacountryundergoingsomechange;thiswilltendtocausesomeofitsinhabitantstovaryslightly;notbutwhatIbelievemostbeingsvaryatalltimesenoughforselectiontoacton。Someofitsinhabitantswillbeexterminated，andtheremainderwillbeexposedtothemutualactionofadifferentsetofinhabitants，whichIbelievetobemoreimportanttothelifeofeachbeingthanmereclimate。Consideringtheinfinitelyvariouswaysbeingshavetoobtainfoodbystrugglingwithotherbeings，toescapedangeratvarioustimesoflife，tohavetheireggsorseedsdisseminated，etc。，etc。，Icannotdoubtthatduringmillionsofgenerationsindividualsofaspecieswillbebornwithsomeslightvariationprofitabletosomepartofitseconomy;suchwillhaveabetterchanceofsurviving，propagatingthisvariation，whichagainwillbeslowlyincreasedbytheaccumulativeactionofnaturalselection;andthevarietythusformedwilleithercoexistwith，ormorecommonlywillexterminateitsparentform。Anorganicbeinglikethewoodpecker，orthemistletoe，maythuscometobeadaptedtoascoreofcontingencies;naturalselection，accumulatingthoseslightvariationsinallpartsofitsstructurewhichareinanywayusefultoit，duringanypartofitslife。
　　V。Multiformdifficultieswilloccurtoeveryoneonthistheory。Mostcan，Ithink，besatisfactorilyanswered。——"Naturanonfacitsaltum"answersomeofthemostobvious。Theslownessofthechange，andonlyaveryfewundergoingchangeatanyonetimeanswersothers。Theextremeimperfectionsofourgeologicalrecordsanswersothers。
　　VI。Oneotherprinciple，whichmaybecalledtheprincipleofdivergence，plays，Ibelieve，animportantpartintheoriginofspecies。Thesamespotwillsupportmorelifeifoccupiedbyverydiverseforms:weseethisinthemanygenericformsinasquareyardofturf（Ihavecountedtwentyspeciesbelongingtoeighteengenera），orintheplantsandinsects，onanylittleuniformislet，belongingtoalmostasmanygeneraandfamiliesastospecies。Wecanunderstandthiswiththehigheranimals，whosehabitswebestunderstand。Weknowthatithasbeenexperimentallyshownthataplotoflandwillyieldagreaterweight，ifcroppedwithseveralspeciesofgrasses，thanwithtwoorthreespecies。Noweverysingleorganicbeing，bypropagatingrapidly，maybesaidtobestrivingitsutmosttoincreaseinnumbers。Soitwillbewiththeoffspringofanyspeciesafterithasbrokenintovarieties，orsub—species，ortruespecies。Anditfollows，I
　　think，fromtheforegoingfacts，thatthevaryingoffspringofeachspecieswilltry（onlyafewwillsucceed）toseizeonasmanyandasdiverseplacesintheeconomyofnatureaspossible。Eachnewvarietyorspecieswhenformedwillgenerallytaketheplaceof，andsoexterminateitslesswell—fittedparent。This，Ibelieve，tobetheoriginoftheclassificationorarrangementofallorganicbeingsatalltimes。ThesealwaysSEEMtobranchandsub—branchlikeatreefromacommontrunk;theflourishingtwigsdestroyingthelessvigorous——thedeadandlostbranchesrudelyrepresentingextinctgeneraandfamilies。
　　ThissketchisMOSTimperfect;butinsoshortaspaceIcannotmakeitbetter。Yourimaginationmustfillupmanywideblanks。Withoutsomereflection，itwillappearallrubbish;perhapsitwillappearsoafterreflection。
　　C。D。
　　P。S。——Thislittleabstracttouchesonlytheaccumulativepowerofnaturalselection，whichIlookatasbyfarthemostimportantelementintheproductionofnewforms。Thelawsgoverningtheincipientorprimordialvariation（unimportantexceptasthegroundworkforselectiontoacton，inwhichrespectitisallimportant），Ishalldiscussunderseveralheads，butIcancome，asyoumaywellbelieve，onlytoverypartialandimperfectconclusions。
　　[ThejointpaperofMr。WallaceandmyfatherwasreadattheLinneanSocietyontheeveningofJuly1st。SirCharlesLyellandSirJ。D。Hookerwerepresent，andboth，Ibelieve，madeafewremarks，chieflywithaviewofimpressingonthosepresentthenecessityofgivingthemostcarefulconsiderationtowhattheyhadheard。Therewas，however，nosemblanceofadiscussion。SirJosephHookerwritestome:"Theinterestexcitedwasintense，butthesubjectwastoonovelandtooominousfortheoldschooltoenterthelists，beforearmouring。Afterthemeetingitwastalkedoverwithbatedbreath:Lyell’sapproval，andperhapsinasmallwaymine，ashislieutenantintheaffair，ratheroverawedtheFellows，whowouldotherwisehaveflownoutagainstthedoctrine。Wehad，too，thevantagegroundofbeingfamiliarwiththeauthorsandtheirtheme。"]
　　CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
　　Down，July5th[1858]。
　　MydearHooker，Wearebecomemorehappyandlesspanic—struck，nowthatwehavesentoutofthehouseeverychild，andshallremoveH。，assoonasshecanmove。Thefirstnursebecameillwithulceratedthroatandquinsey，andthesecondisnowillwiththescarletfever，but，thankGod，isrecovering。Youmayimaginehowfrightenedwehavebeen。Ithasbeenamostmiserablefortnight。Thankyoumuchforyournote，tellingmethatallhadgoneonprosperouslyattheLinneanSociety。YoumustletmeonceagaintellyouhowdeeplyIfeelyourgenerouskindnessandLyell’sonthisoccasion。Butintruthitshamesmethatyoushouldhavelosttimeonamerepointofpriority。Ishallbecurioustoseetheproofs。IdonotintheleastunderstandwhethermylettertoA。Grayistobeprinted;Isupposenot，onlyyournote;butIamquiteindifferent，andplacemyselfabsolutelyinyourandLyell’shands。
　　Icaneasilyprepareanabstractofmywholework，butIcanhardlyseehowitcanbemadescientificforaJournal，withoutgivingfacts，whichwouldbeimpossible。Indeed，amereabstractcannotbeveryshort。CouldyougivemeanyideahowmanypagesoftheJournalcouldprobablybesparedme？
　　Directlyaftermyreturnhome，Iwouldbeginandcutmyclothtomymeasure。IftheRefereesweretorejectitasnotstrictlyscientific，I
　　could，perhapspublishitasapamphlet。
　　Withrespecttomybiginterleavedabstract（TheSketchof1844。），wouldyousenditanytimebeforeyouleaveEngland，totheenclosedaddress？IfyoudonotgotillAugust7th—10th，Ishouldpreferitleftwithyou。I
　　hopeyouhavejottedcriticismsonmyMS。onbigGenera，etc。，sufficienttomakeyourememberyourremarks，asIshouldbeinfinitelysorrytolosethem。AndIseenochanceofourmeetingifyougosoonabroad。Wethankyouheartilyforyourinvitationtojoinyou:IcanfancynothingwhichI
　　shouldenjoymore;butourchildrenaretoodelicateforustoleave;I
　　shouldbemerelivinglumber。
　　Lastly，yousaidyouwouldwritetoWallace;Icertainlyshouldmuchlikethis，asitwouldquiteexonerateme:ifyouwouldsendmeyournote，sealedup，Iwouldforwarditwithmyown，asIknowtheaddress，etc。
　　Willyouanswermesometimeaboutyournotionsofthelengthofmyabstract。
　　IfyouseeLyell，willyoutellhimhowtrulygratefulIfeelforhiskindinterestinthisaffairofmine。YoumustknowthatIlookatit，asveryimportant，forthereceptionoftheviewofspeciesnotbeingimmutable，thefactofthegreatestGeologistandBotanistinEnglandtakingANYSORT
　　OFINTERESTinthesubject:Iamsureitwilldomuchtobreakdownprejudices。
　　Yoursaffectionately，C。DARWIN。
　　CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
　　MissWedgwood’s，Hartfield，TunbridgeWells，[July13th，1858]。
　　MydearHooker，YourlettertoWallaceseemstomeperfect，quiteclearandmostcourteous。
　　Idonotthinkitcouldpossiblybeimproved，andIhavetodayforwardeditwithaletterofmyown。IalwaysthoughtitverypossiblethatImightbeforestalled，butIfanciedthatIhadagrandenoughsoulnottocare;
　　butIfoundmyselfmistakenandpunished;Ihad，however，quiteresignedmyself，andhadwrittenhalfalettertoWallacetogiveupallprioritytohim，andshouldcertainlynothavechangedhaditnotbeenforLyell’sandyourquiteextraordinarykindness。IassureyouIfeelit，andshallnotforgetit。IamMOREthansatisfiedatwhattookplaceattheLinneanSociety。IhadthoughtthatyourletterandminetoAsaGrayweretobeonlyanappendixtoWallace’spaper。
　　Wegofromhereinafewdaystothesea—side，probablytotheIsleofWight，andonmyreturn（afterabattlewithpigeonskeletons）Iwillsettoworkattheabstract，thoughhowonearthIshallmakeanythingofanabstractinthirtypagesoftheJournal，Iknownot，butwilltrymybest。
　　IshallorderBentham;isitnotapitythatyoushouldwastetimeintabulatingvarieties？forIcangettheDownschoolmastertodoitonmyreturn，andcantellyoualltheresults。
　　Imusttryandseeyoubeforeyourjourney;butdonotthinkIamfishingtoaskyoutocometoDown，foryouwillhavenotimeforthat。
　　YoucannotimaginehowpleasedIamthatthenotionofNaturalSelectionhasactedasapurgativeonyourbowelsofimmutability。Whenevernaturalistscanlookatspecieschangingascertain，whatamagnificentfieldwillbeopen，——onallthelawsofvariation，——onthegenealogyofalllivingbeings，——ontheirlinesofmigration，etc。，etc。PraythankMrs。
　　Hookerforherverykindlittlenote，andpray，sayhowtrulyobligedIam，andintruthashamedtothinkthatsheshouldhavehadthetroubleofcopyingmyuglyMS。Itwasextraordinarilykindinher。Farewell，mydearkindfriend。
　　Yoursaffectionately，C。DARWIN。
　　P。S。——Ihavehadsomefunhereinwatchingaslave—makingant;forIcouldnothelpratherdoubtingthewonderfulstories，butIhavenowseenadefeatedmaraudingparty，andIhaveseenamigrationfromonenesttoanotheroftheslave—makers，carryingtheirslaves（whoareHOUSE，andnotfieldniggers）intheirmouths！
　　Iaminclinedtothinkthatitisatruegeneralisationthat，whenhoneyissecretedatonepointofthecircleofthecorolla，ifthepistilbends，italwaysbendsintothelineofthegangwaytothehoney。TheLarkspurisagoodinstance，incontrasttoColumbine，——ifyouthinkofit，justattendtothislittlepoint。
　　CHARLESDARWINTOC。LYELL。
　　King’sHeadHotel，Sandown，IsleofWight，July18th[1858]……Weareestablishedherefortendays，andthengoontoShanklin，whichseemsmoreamusingtoone，likemyself，whocannotwalk。WehopemuchthattheseamaydoH。andL。good。Andifitdoes，ourexpeditionwillanswer，butnototherwise。
　　IhaveneverhalfthankedyouforalltheextraordinarytroubleandkindnessyoushowedmeaboutWallace’saffair。HookertoldmewhatwasdoneattheLinneanSociety，andIamfarmorethansatisfied，andIdonotthinkthatWallacecanthinkmyconductunfairinallowingyouandHookertodowhateveryouthoughtfair。Icertainlywasalittleannoyedtoloseallpriority，buthadresignedmyselftomyfate。Iamgoingtopreparealongerabstract;butitisreallyimpossibletodojusticetothesubject，exceptbygivingthefactsonwhicheachconclusionisgrounded，andthatwill，ofcourse，beabsolutelyimpossible。YournameandHooker’snameappearingasinanywaytheleastinterestedinmyworkwill，Iamcertain，havethemostimportantbearinginleadingpeopletoconsiderthesubjectwithoutprejudice。Ilookatthisassoveryimportant，thatIamalmostgladofWallace’spaperforhavingledtothis。
　　MydearLyell，yoursmostgratefully，CH。DARWIN。
　　[Thefollowingletterreferstotheproof—sheetsoftheLinneanpaper。The’introduction’meanstheprefatorylettersignedbySirC。LyellandSirJ。D。Hooker。]
　　CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
　　King’sHeadHotel，Sandown，IsleofWight，July21st[1858]。
　　MydearHooker，Ireceivedonlyyesterdaytheproof—sheets，whichInowreturn。Ithinkyourintroductioncannotbeimproved。
　　Iamdisgustedwithmybadwriting。Icouldnotimproveit，withoutrewritingall，whichwouldnotbefairorworthwhile，asIhavebegunonabetterabstractfortheLinneanSociety。MyexcuseisthatitNEVERwasintendedforpublication。Ihavemadeonlyafewcorrectionsinthestyle;
　　butIcannotmakeitdecent，butIhopemoderatelyintelligible。Isupposesomeonewillcorrecttherevise。（ShallI？）
　　CouldIhaveacleanprooftosendtoWallace？
　　Ihavenotyetfullyconsideredyourremarksonbiggenera（butyourgeneralconcurrenceisoftheHIGHESTPOSSIBLEinteresttome）;norshallI
　　beabletillIre—readmyMS。;butyoumayrelyonitthatyounevermakearemarktomewhichislostfromINATTENTION。Iamparticularlygladyoudonotobjecttomystatingyourobjectionsinamodifiedform，fortheyalwaysstruckmeasveryimportant，andashavingmuchinherentvalue，whetherornotheywerefataltomynotions。Iwillconsiderandreconsiderallyourremarks……
　　IhaveorderedBentham，for，as——says，itwillbeverycurioustoseeaFlorawrittenbyamanwhoknowsnothingofBritishplants！！
　　IamverygladatwhatyousayaboutmyAbstract，butyoumayrelyonitthatIwillcondensetotheutmost。Iwouldaidinmoneyifitistoolong。（Thatistosay，hewouldhelptopayfortheprinting，ifitshouldprovetoolongfortheLinneanSociety。）Inhowmanywaysyouhaveaidedme！
　　Yoursaffectionately，C。DARWIN。
　　[The’Abstract’mentionedinthelastsentenceoftheprecedingletterwasinfactthe’OriginofSpecies，’onwhichhenowsettowork。Inhis’Autobiography’hespeaksofbeginningtowriteinSeptember，butinhisDiaryhewrote，"July20toAugust12，atSandown，beganAbstractofSpeciesbook。""September16，RecommencedAbstract。"Thebookwasbegunwiththeideathatitwouldbepublishedasapaper，orseriesofpapers，bytheLinneanSociety，anditwasonlyinthelateautumnthatitbecameclearthatitmusttaketheformofanindependentvolume。]
　　CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
　　NorfolkHouse，Shanklin，IsleofWight，Friday[July]30th[1858]。
　　MydearHooker，WillyougivetheenclosedscraptoSirWilliamtothankhimforhiskindness;andthisgivesmeanexcusetoamusemyselfbywritingtoyouanote，whichrequiresnoanswer。
　　Thisisaverycharmingplace，andwehavegotaverycomfortablehouse。
　　But，alas，IcannotsaythattheseahasdoneH。orL。muchgood。Norhasmystomachrecoveredfromallourtroubles。Iamverygladwelefthome，forsixchildrenhavenowdiedofscarletfeverinDown。Wereturnonthe14thofAugust。
　　IhavegotBentham（’BritishFlora。’），andamcharmedwithit，andWilliam（whohasjuststartedforatourabroad）hasbeenmakingoutallsortsofnew（tome）plantscapitally。Thelittlescrapsofinformationaresocapital……TheEnglishnamesintheanalyticalkeysdriveusmad:givethembyallmeans，butwhyonearth[not]makethemsubordinatetotheLatin;itputsmeinapassion。W。chargedintotheCompositaeandUmbelliferaelikeahero，anddemolishedeversomanyingrandstyle。
　　IpassmytimebydoingdailyacoupleofhoursofmyAbstract，andIfinditamusingandimprovingwork。IamnowmostheartilyobligedtoyouandLyellforhavingsetmeonthis;forIshall，whenitisdone，beabletofinishmyworkwithgreatereaseandleisure。IconfessIhatedthethoughtofthejob;andnowIfinditveryunsatisfactoryinnotbeingabletogivemyreasonsforeachconclusion。
　　IwillbelongerthanIexpected;itwilltakethirty—fiveofmyMS。foliopagestogiveanabstractonvariationunderdomesticationalone;butI
　　willtrytoputinnothingwhichdoesnotseemtomeofsomeinterest，andwhichwasoncenewtome。Itseemsaqueerplantogiveanabstractofanunpublishedwork;nevertheless，Irepeat，IamextremelygladIhavebeguninearnestonit。
　　IhopeyouandMrs。Hookerwillhaveaveryverypleasanttour。Farewell，mydearHooker。
　　Yoursaffectionately，C。DARWIN。
　　CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
　　NorfolkHouse，Shanklin，IsleofWight，Thursday[August5，1858]。
　　MydearHooker，Ishouldthinkthenoteapologeticalaboutthestyleoftheabstractwasbestasanote……ButIwritenowtoaskyoutosendmebyreturnofposttheMS。onbiggenera，thatImaymakeanabstractofacoupleofpagesinlength。Ipresumethatyouhavequitedonewithit，otherwiseIwouldnotforanythinghaveitback。Ifyoutieitwithstring，andmarkitMS。forprinting，itwillnotcost，Ishouldthink，morethan4pence。IshallwishmuchtosaythatyouhavereadthisMS。andconcur;butyoushall，beforeIreadittotheSociety，hearthesentence。