I am working very hard for me, and long to finish and be free and try to recover some health.
My dear Lyell, ever yours, C. DARWIN.
Very sincere thanks to you for standing my proxy for the Wollaston Medal.
P.S. Would you advise me to tell Murray that my book is not more UN- orthodox than the subject makes inevitable. That I do not discuss the origin of man. That I do not bring in any discussion about Genesis, etc., etc., and only give facts, and such conclusions from them as seem to me fair.
Or had I better say NOTHING to Murray, and assume that he cannot object to this much unorthodoxy, which in fact is not more than any Geological Treatise which runs slap counter to Genesis.
INCLOSURE.
AN ABSTRACT OF AN ESSAY
ON THE
ORIGIN
OF
SPECIES AND VARIETIES
THROUGH NATURAL SELECTION
BY
CHARLES DARWIN, M.A.
Fellow of the Royal Geological and Linnean Societies
...
LONDON:
etc., etc., etc., etc.
1859.
CHARLES DARWIN TO C. LYELL. Down, March 30th [1859].
My dear Lyell,
You have been uncommonly kind in all you have done. You not only have saved me much trouble and some anxiety, but have done all incomparably better than I could have done it. I am much pleased at all you say about Murray. I will write either to-day or to-morrow to him, and will send shortly a large bundle of MS., but unfortunately I cannot for a week, as the first three chapters are in the copyists' hands.
I am sorry about Murray objecting to the term Abstract, as I look at it as the only possible apology for NOT giving references and facts in full, but I will defer to him and you. I am also sorry about the term "natural selection." I hope to retain it with explanation somewhat as thus--
"Through natural selection, or the preservation of favoured Races."
Why I like the term is that it is constantly used in all works on breeding, and I am surprised that it is not familiar to Murray; but I have so long studied such works that I have ceased to be a competent judge.
I again most truly and cordially thank you for your really valuable assistance.
Yours most truly, C. DARWIN.
CHARLES DARWIN TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, April 2nd [1859].
...I wrote to him [Mr. Murray] and gave him the headings of the chapters, and told him he could not have the MS. for ten days or so; and this morning I received a letter, offering me handsome terms, and agreeing to publish without seeing the MS.! So he is eager enough; I think I should have been cautious, anyhow, but, owing to your letter, I told him most EXPLICITLY that I accept his offer solely on condition that, after he has seen part or all the MS., he has full power of retracting. You will think me presumptuous, but I think my book will be popular to a certain extent (enough to ensure [against] heavy loss) amongst scientific and semi- scientific men; why I think so is, because I have found in conversation so great and surprising an interest amongst such men, and some o-scientific [non-scientific] men on this subject, and all my chapters are not NEARLY so dry and dull as that which you have read on geographical distribution. Anyhow, Murray ought to be the best judge, and if he chooses to publish it, I think I may wash my hands of all responsibility. I am sure my friends, i.e., Lyell and you, have been EXTRAORDINARILY kind in troubling yourselves on the matter.
I shall be delighted to see you the day before Good Friday; there would be one advantage for you in any other day--as I believe both my boys come home on that day--and it would be almost impossible that I could send the carriage for you. There will, I believe, be some relations in the house-- but I hope you will not care for that, as we shall easily get as much talking as my IMBECILE STATE allows. I shall deeply enjoy seeing you.
...I am tired, so no more.
My dear Hooker, your affectionate, C. DARWIN.
P.S.--Please to send, well TIED UP with strong string, my Geographical MS., towards the latter half of next week--i.e., 7th or 8th--that I may send it with more to Murray; and God help him if he tries to read it.