variable。PartofthedifferencewithplantsmaybeaccountedforbymanyofmycasesbeingsecondarymaleorFEMALEcharacters，butthenIhavestrikingcaseswithhermaphroditeCirripedes。Thecasesseemtomefartoonumerousforaccidentalcoincidences，ofgreatvariabilityandabnormaldevelopment。Ipresumethatyouwillnotobjecttomyputtinganotesayingthatyouhadreflectedoverthecase，andthoughoneortwocasesseemedtosupport，quiteasmanyormoreseemedwhollycontradictory。Thiswantofevidenceisthemoresurprisingtome，asgenerallyIfindanypropositionmoreeasilytestedbyobservationsinbotanicalworks，whichI
havepickedup，thaninzoologicalworks。Ineverdreamedthatyouhadkeptthesubjectatallbeforeyourmind。AltogetherthecaseisonemoreofmyMANYhorridpuzzles。Myobservations，thoughonsoinfinitelyasmallscale，onthestruggleforexistence，begintomakemeseealittleclearerhowthefightgoeson。Outofsixteenkindsofseedsownonmymeadow，fifteenhavegerminated，butnowtheyareperishingatsucharatethatIdoubtwhethermorethanonewillflower。Herewehavechokingwhichhastakenplacelikewiseonagreatscale，withplantsnotseedlings，inabitofmylawnallowedtogrowup。Ontheotherhand，inabitofground，2by3feet，IhavedailymarkedeachseedlingweedasithasappearedduringMarch，AprilandMay，and357havecomeup，andofthese277haveALREADYbeenkilledchieflybyslugs。Bytheway，atMoorPark，Isawratheraprettycaseoftheeffectsofanimalsonvegetation:thereareenormouscommonswithclumpsofoldScotchfirsonthehills，andabouteightortenyearsagosomeofthesecommonswereenclosed，andallroundtheclumpsniceyoungtreesarespringingupbythemillion，lookingexactlyasifplanted，somanyareofthesameage。Inotherpartsofthecommon，notyetenclosed，IlookedformilesandnotONEyoungtreecouldbeseen。Ithenwentnear（withinquarterofamileoftheclumps）andlookedcloselyintheheather，andthereIfoundtensofthousandsofyoungScotchfirs（thirtyinonesquareyard）withtheirtopsnibbledoffbythefewcattlewhichoccasionallyroamoverthesewretchedheaths。Onelittletree，threeincheshigh，bytheringsappearedtobetwenty—sixyearsold，withashortstemaboutasthickasastickofsealing—wax。Whatawondrousproblemitis，whataplayofforces，determiningthekindandproportionofeachplantinasquareyardofturf！Itistomymindtrulywonderful。Andyetwearepleasedtowonderwhensomeanimalorplantbecomesextinct。
IamsosorrythatyouwillnotbeattheClub。IseeMrs。HookerisgoingtoYarmouth;Itrustthatthehealthofyourchildrenisnotthemotive。
Good—bye。
MydearHooker，everyours，C。DARWIN。
P。S。——IbelieveyouareafraidtosendmearipeEdwardsiapod，forfearI
shouldfloatitfromNewZealandtoChile！！！
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
Down，June5[1857]。
MydearHooker，Ihonouryourconscientiouscareaboutthemedals。（TheRoyalSociety’smedals。）ThankGod！Iamonlyanamateur（butamuchinterestedone）onthesubject。
Itisanoldnotionofminethatmoregoodisdonebygivingmedalstoyoungermenintheearlypartoftheircareer，thanasamererewardtomenwhosescientificcareerisnearlyfinished。Whethermedalseverdoanygoodisaquestionwhichdoesnotconcernus，astherethemedalsare。I
amalmostinclinedtothinkthatIwouldratherlowerthestandard，andgivemedalstoyoungworkersthantooldoneswithnoESPECIALclaims。
Withregardtoespecialclaims，Ithinkitjustdeservingyourattention，thatifgeneralclaimsareonceadmitted，itopensthedoortogreatlaxityingivingthem。Thinkofthecaseofaveryrichman，whoaidedSOLELY
withhismoney，buttoagrandextent——orsuchaninconceivableprodigyasaministeroftheCrownwhoreallycaredforscience。Wouldyougivesuchmenmedals？PerhapsmedalscouldnotbebetterappliedthanEXCLUSIVELYtosuchmen。IconfessatpresentIinclinetosticktoespecialclaimswhichcanbeputdownonpaper……
Iammuchconfoundedbyyourshowingthattherearenotobviousinstancesofmy（orratherWaterhouse’s）lawofabnormaldevelopmentsbeinghighlyvariable。Ihavebeenthinkingmoreofyourremarkaboutthedifficultyofjudgingorcomparingvariabilityinplantsfromthegreatgeneralvariabilityofparts。Ishouldlookatthelawasmorecompletelysmashedifyouwouldturninyourmindforalittlewhileforcasesofgreatvariabilityofanorgan，andtellmewhetheritismoderatelyeasytopickoutsuchcases;ForIFTHEYCANBEPICKEDOUT，and，notwithstanding，donotcoincidewithgreatorabnormaldevelopment，itwouldbeacompletesmasher。Itisonlybeginninginyourmindatthevariabilityendofthequestioninsteadofattheabnormalityend。PERHAPScasesinwhichapartishighlyvariableinallthespeciesofagroupshouldbeexcluded，aspossiblybeingsomethingdistinct，andconnectedwiththeperplexingsubjectofpolymorphism。Willyouperfectyourassistancebyfurtherconsidering，foralittle，thesubjectthisway？
IhavebeensomuchinterestedthismorningincomparingallmynotesonthevariationoftheseveralspeciesofthegenusEquusandtheresultsoftheircrossing。Takingmoststrictlyanalogousfactsamongsttheblessedpigeonsformyguide，IbelieveIcanplainlyseethecolouringandmarksofthegrandfatheroftheAss，Horse，Quagga，HemionusandZebra，somemillionsofgenerationsago！ShouldnotI[have]sneer[ed]atanyonewhomadesucharemarktomeafewyearsago;butmyevidenceseemstomesogoodthatIshallpublishmyvisionattheendofmylittlediscussiononthisgenus。
Ihaveoflateinundatedyouwithmynotions，youbestoffriendsandphilosophers。
Adios，C。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
MoorPark，Farnham，June25th[1857]。
MydearHooker，Thisrequiresnoanswer，butIwillaskyouwheneverwemeet。Lookatenclosedseedlinggorses，especiallyonewiththetopknockedoff。Theleavessucceedingthecotyledonsbeingalmostclover—likeinshape，seemstomefeeblyanalogoustoembryonicresemblancesinyounganimals，as，forinstance，theyounglionbeingstriped。Ishallaskyouwhetherthisisso……（See’PowerofMovementinPlants，’page414。）
Dr。Lane（ThephysicianatMoorPark。）andwife，andmother—in—law，LadyDrysdale，aresomeofthenicestpeopleIevermet。
Ireturnhomeonthe30th。Good—bye，mydearHooker。
Everyours，C。DARWIN。
[Herefollowsagroupofletters，ofvariousdates，bearingonthequestionoflargegeneravarying。]
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
March11th[1858]。
IwasledtoallthisworkbyaremarkofFries，thatthespeciesinlargegeneraweremorecloselyrelatedtoeachotherthaninsmallgenera;andifthiswereso，seeingthatvarietiesandspeciesaresohardlydistinguishable，IconcludedthatIshouldfindmorevarietiesinthelargegenerathaninthesmall……SomedayIhopeyouwillreadmyshortdiscussiononthewholesubject。Youhavedonemeinfiniteservice，whateveropinionIcometo，indrawingmyattentiontoatleastthepossibilityortheprobabilityofbotanistsrecordingmorevarietiesinthelargethaninthesmallgenera。Itwillbehardworkformetobecandidincomingtomyconclusion。
Everyours，mosttruly，C。DARWIN。
P。S。——Ishallbeseveralweeksatmypresentjob。Theworkhasbeenturningoutbadlyformethismorning，andIamsickatheart;and，oh！howIdohatespeciesandvarieties。
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
July14th[1857？]……Iwritenowtosupplicatemostearnestlyafavour，viz。，theloanof"Boreau，FloreducentredelaFrance"，either1stor2ndedition，lastbest;also"FloraRatisbonensis，"byDr。Furnrohr，in’Naturhist。
TopographievonRegensburg，1839。’IfyoucanPOSSIBLYsparethem，willyousendthematoncetotheenclosedaddress。Ifyouhavenotthem，willyousendonelinebyreturnofpost:asImusttrywhetherKippist（ThelateMr。KippistwasatthistimeinchargeoftheLinneanSociety’sLibrary。）cananyhowfindthem，whichIfearwillbenearlyimpossibleintheLinneanLibrary，inwhichIknowtheyare。
Ihavebeenmakingsomecalculationsaboutvarieties，etc。，andtalkingyesterdaywithLubbock，hehaspointedouttomethegrossestblunderwhichIhavemadeinprinciple，andwhichentailstwoorthreeweeks’lostwork;
andIamatadead—locktillIhavethesebookstogooveragain，andseewhattheresultofcalculationontherightprincipleis。Iamthemostmiserable，bemuddled，stupiddoginallEngland，andamreadytocrywithvexationatmyblindnessandpresumption。
Everyours，mostmiserably，C。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOJOHNLUBBOCK。
Down，[July]14th[1857]。
MydearLubbock，Youhavedonemethegreatestpossibleserviceinhelpingmetoclarifymybrains。IfIamasmuzzyonallsubjectsasIamonproportionandchance，——whatabookIshallproduce！
IhavedividedtheNewZealandFloraasyousuggested，thereare329
speciesingeneraof4andupwards，and323ingeneraof3andless。
The339specieshave51speciespresentingoneormorevarieties。The323
specieshaveonly37。Proportionately（339:323::51:48。5）theyoughttohavehad481/2speciespresentingvars。SothatthecasegoesasI
wantit，butnotstrongenough，withoutitbegeneral，formetohavemuchconfidencein。Iamquiteconvincedyoursistherightway;Ihadthoughtofit，butshouldneverhavedoneithaditnotbeenformymostfortunateconversationwithyou。
UnquiteshockedtofindhoweasilyIammuddled，forIhadbeforethoughtoverthesubjectmuch，andconcludedmywaywasfair。Itisdreadfullyerroneous。
Whatadisgracefulblunderyouhavesavedmefrom。Iheartilythankyou。
Everyours，C。DARWIN。
P。S。——ItisenoughtomakemetearupallmyMS。andgiveupindespair。
Itwilltakemeseveralweekstogooverallmymaterials。Butoh，ifyouknewhowthankfulIamtoyou！
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
Down，August[1857]。
MydearHooker，Itisahorridboreyoucannotcomesoon，andIreproachmyselfthatIdidnotwritesooner。Howbusyyoumustbe！withsuchaheapofbotanistsatKew。Onlythink，IhavejusthadaletterfromHenslow，sayinghewillcomeherebetween11thand15th！Isnotthatgrand？ManythanksaboutFurnrohr。ImusthumblysupplicateKippisttosearchforit:hemostkindlygotBoreauforme。
Iamgotextremelyinterestedintabulating，accordingtomeresizeofgenera，thespecieshavinganyvarietiesmarkedbyGreeklettersorotherwise:theresult（asfarasIhaveyetgone）seemstomeoneofthemostimportantargumentsIhaveyetmetwith，thatvarietiesareonlysmallspecies——orspeciesonlystronglymarkedvarieties。Thesubjectisinmanywayssoveryimportantforme;Iwishmuchyouwouldthinkofanywell—
workedFloraswithfrom1000—2000species，withthevarietiesmarked。Itisgoodtohavehair—splittersandlumpers。（Thosewhomakemanyspeciesarethe"splitters，"andthosewhomakefewarethe"lumpers。"）Ihavedone，oramdoing:——
Babington……
Henslow……BritishFlora。
LondonCatalogue。H。C。Watson……
Boreau……France。
Miquel……Holland。
AsaGray……N。U。States。
Hooker……NewZealand。
FragmentofIndianFlora。
Wollaston……Madeirainsects。
HasnotKochpublishedagoodGermanFlora？Doeshemarkvarieties？Couldyousenditme？IstherenotsomegrandRussianFlora，whichperhapshasvarietiesmarked？TheFlorasoughttobewellknown。
Iaminnohurryforafewweeks。Willyouturnthisinyourheadwhen，ifever，youhaveleisure？Thesubjectisveryimportantformywork，thoughIclearlyseeMANYcausesoferror……
CHARLESDARWINTOASAGRAY。
Down，February21st[1859]。
MydearGray，Mylastletterbeggednofavour，thisonedoes:butitwillreallycostyouverylittletroubletoanswertome，anditwillbeofveryGREAT
servicetome，owingtoaremarkmadetomebyHooker，whichIcannotcredit，andwhichwassuggestedtohimbyoneofmyletters。Hesuggestedmyaskingyou，andItoldhimIwouldnotgivetheleasthintwhathethought。IgenerallybelieveHookerimplicitly，butheissometimes，I
think，andheconfessesit，ratherovercritical，andhisingenuityindiscoveringflawsseemstomeadmirable。Hereismyquestion:——"DoyouthinkthatgoodbotanistsindrawingupalocalFlora，whethersmallorlarge，orinmakingaProdromuslikeDeCandolle’s，wouldalmostuniversally，butunintentionallyandunconsciously，tendtorecord（i。e。，markingwithGreeklettersandgivingshortcharacters）varietiesinthelargeorinthesmallgenera？Orwouldthetendencybetorecordthevarietiesaboutequallyingeneraofallsizes？Areyouyourselfconsciousonreflectionthatyouhaveattendedto，andrecordedmorecarefullythevarietiesinlargeorsmall，orverysmallgenera？"
Iknowwhatfleetingandtriflingthingsvarietiesveryoftenare;butmyqueryappliestosuchashavebeenthoughtworthmarkingandrecording。Ifyoucouldscrewtimetosendmeeversobriefananswertothis，prettysoon，itwouldbeagreatservicetome。
Yoursmosttrulyobliged，CH。DARWIN。
P。S。——Doyouknowwhetheranyonehaseverpublishedanyremarksonthegeographicalrangeofvarietiesofplantsincomparisonwiththespeciestowhichtheyaresupposedtobelong？Ihaveinvaintriedtogetsomevagueidea，andwiththeexceptionofalittleinformationonthisheadgivenmebyMr。WatsoninapaperonLandShellsinUnitedStates，Ihavequitefailed;butperhapsitwouldbedifficultforyoutogivemeevenabriefansweronthishead，andifsoIamnotsounreasonable，IASSUREYOU，astoexpectit。
IfyouarewritingtoEnglandsoon，youcouldencloseotherletters[for]
metoforward。
Pleaseobservethequestionisnotwhethertherearemoreorfewervarietiesinlargerorsmallergenera，butwhetherthereisastrongerorweakertendencyinthemindsofbotaniststoRECORDsuchinlargeorsmallgenera。
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
Down，May6th[1858]……IsendbythispostmyMS。onthe"commonness，""range，"and"variation"
ofspeciesinlargeandsmallgenera。Youhaveundertakenahorridjobinsoverykindlyofferingtoreadit，andIthankyouwarmly。Ihavejustcorrectedthecopy，andamdisappointedinfindinghowtoughandobscureitis;Icannotmakeitclearer，andatpresentIloathetheverysightofit。
Thestyleofcourserequiresfurthercorrection，andifpublishedImusttry，butasyetseenothow，tomakeitclearer。
Ifyouhavemuchtosayandcanhavepatiencetoconsiderthewholesubject，IwouldmeetyouinLondononthePhil。Clubday，soastosaveyouthetroubleofwriting。ForHeaven’ssake，yousternandawfuljudgeandsceptic，rememberthatmyconclusionsmaybetrue，notwithstandingthatBotanistsmayhaverecordedmorevarietiesinlargethaninsmallgenera。
Itseemstomeamerebalancingofprobabilities。AgainIthankyoumostsincerely，butIfearyouwillfinditahorridjob。
Everyours，C。DARWIN。
P。S。——Asusual，Hydropathyhasmadeamanofmeforashorttime:IhopetheseawilldoMrs。Hookermuchgood。
CHARLESDARWINTOA。R。WALLACE。
Down，December22nd，1857。
MydearSir，IthankyouforyourletterofSeptember27th。Iamextremelygladtohearhowyouareattendingtodistributioninaccordancewiththeoreticalideas。
Iamafirmbelieverthatwithoutspeculationthereisnogoodandoriginalobservation。Fewtravellershaveattendedtosuchpointsasyouarenowatworkon;and，indeed，thewholesubjectofdistributionofanimalsisdreadfullybehindthatofplants。YousaythatyouhavebeensomewhatsurprisedatnonoticehavingbeentakenofyourpaperintheAnnals。（’OnthelawthathasregulatedtheintroductionofNewSpecies。’Ann。Nat。
Hist。，1855。）IcannotsaythatIam，forsoveryfewnaturalistscareforanythingbeyondthemeredescriptionofspecies。Butyoumustnotsupposethatyourpaperhasnotbeenattendedto:twoverygoodmen，SirC。Lyell，andMr。E。BlythatCalcutta，speciallycalledmyattentiontoit。Thoughagreeingwithyouonyourconclusionsinthatpaper，IbelieveIgomuchfurtherthanyou;butitistoolongasubjecttoenteronmyspeculativenotions。IhavenotyetseenyourpaperonthedistributionofanimalsintheAruIslands。Ishallreaditwiththeutmostinterest;forIthinkthatthemostinterestingquarterofthewholeglobeinrespecttodistribution，andIhavelongbeenveryimperfectlytryingtocollectdatafortheMalayArchipelago。Ishallbequitepreparedtosubscribetoyourdoctrineofsubsidence;indeed，fromthequiteindependentevidenceoftheCoralReefsIcolouredmyoriginalmap（inmyCoralvolume）oftheAruIslandsasoneofsubsidence，butgotfrightenedandleftituncoloured。
ButIcanseethatyouareinclinedtogomuchfurtherthanIaminregardtotheformerconnectionofoceanicislandswithcontinents。EversincepoorE。Forbespropoundedthisdoctrineithasbeeneagerlyfollowed;andHookerelaboratelydiscussestheformerconnectionofalltheAntarcticIslandsandNewZealandandSouthAmerica。AboutayearagoIdiscussedthissubjectmuchwithLyellandHooker（forIshallhavetotreatofit），andwroteoutmyargumentsinopposition;butyouwillbegladtohearthatneitherLyellnorHookerthoughtmuchofmyarguments。Nevertheless，foronceinmylife，IdarewithstandthealmostpreternaturalsagacityofLyell。
Youaskaboutland—shellsonislandsfardistantfromcontinents:MadeirahasafewidenticalwiththoseofEurope，andheretheevidenceisreallygood，assomeofthemaresub—fossil。InthePacificIslandstherearecasesofidentity，whichIcannotatpresentpersuademyselftoaccountforbyintroductionthroughman’sagency;althoughDr。Aug。Gouldhasconclusivelyshownthatmanyland—shellshavethusbeendistributedoverthePacificbyman’sagency。Thesecasesofintroductionaremostplaguing。HaveyounotfounditsointheMalayArchipelago？IthasseemedtomeinthelistsofmammalsofTimorandotherislands，thatSEVERALinallprobabilityhavebeennaturalised……
YouaskwhetherIshalldiscuss"man。"IthinkIshallavoidthewholesubject，assosurroundedwithprejudices;thoughIfullyadmitthatitisthehighestandmostinterestingproblemforthenaturalist。Mywork，onwhichIhavenowbeenatworkmoreorlessfortwentyyears，willnotfixorsettleanything;butIhopeitwillaidbygivingalargecollectionoffacts，withonedefiniteend。Igetonveryslowly，partlyfromill—
health，partlyfrombeingaveryslowworker。Ihavegotabouthalfwritten;butIdonotsupposeIshallpublishunderacoupleofyears。I
havenowbeenthreewholemonthsononechapteronHybridism！
Iamastonishedtoseethatyouexpecttoremainoutthreeorfouryearsmore。Whatawonderfuldealyouwillhaveseen，andwhatinterestingareas——thegrandMalayArchipelagoandtherichestpartsofSouthAmerica！
IinfinitelyadmireandhonouryourzealandcourageinthegoodcauseofNaturalScience;andyouhavemyverysincereandcordialgoodwishesforsuccessofallkinds，andmayallyourtheoriessucceed，exceptthatonOceanicIslands，onwhichsubjectIwilldobattletothedeath。
Praybelieveme，mydearsir，yoursverysincerely，C。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOW。D。FOX。
February8th[1858]……Iamworkingveryhardatmybook，perhapstoohard。Itwillbeverybig，andIambecomemostdeeplyinterestedinthewayfactsfallintogroups。IamlikeCroesusoverwhelmedwithmyrichesinfacts，andImeantomakemybookasperfectaseverIcan。Ishallnotgotopressatsoonestforacoupleofyears……
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
February23rd[1858]……IwasnotmuchstruckwiththegreatBuckle，andIadmiredthewayyoustuckupaboutdeductionandinduction。Iamreadinghisbook（’TheHistoryofCivilisation。’），which，withmuchsophistry，asitseemstome，isWONDERFULLYcleverandoriginal，andwithastoundingknowledge。
IsawthatyouadmiredMrs。Farrer’s’Questatomba’ofBeethoventhoroughly;thereissomethinggrandinhersweettones。
Farewell。Ihavepartlywrittenthisnotetodrivebee’s—cellsoutofmyhead;forIamhalf—madonthesubjecttotrytomakeoutsomesimplestepsfromwhichallthewondrousanglesmayresult。（HehadmuchcorrespondenceonthissubjectwiththelateProfessorMillerofCambridge。）
IwasverygladtoseeMrs。HookeronFriday;howwellsheappearstobeandlooks。
Forgiveyourintolerablebutaffectionatefriend，C。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOW。D。FOX。
Down，April16th[1858]。
MydearFox，Iwantyoutoobserveonepointforme，onwhichIamextremelymuchinterested，andwhichwillgiveyounotroublebeyondkeepingyoureyesopen，andthatisahabitIknowfullwellthatyouhave。
Ifindhorsesofvariouscoloursoftenhaveaspinalbandorstripeofdifferentanddarkertintthantherestofthebody;rarelytransversebarsonthelegs，generallyontheunder—sideofthefrontlegs，stillmorerarelyaveryfainttransverseshoulder—stripelikeanass。
IsthereanybreedofDelamereforestponies？Ihavefoundoutlittleaboutponiesintheserespects。SirP。Egertonhas，Ibelieve，somequitethoroughbredchestnuthorses;haveanyofthemthespinalstripe？Mouse—
colouredponies，orrathersmallhorses，oftenhavespinalandlegbars。
Sohavedunhorses（bydunImeanrealcolourofcreammixedwithbrown，bay，orchestnut）。Sohavesometimeschestnuts，butIhavenotyetgotacaseofspinalstripeinchestnut，racehorse，orinquiteheavycart—
horse。AnyfactofthisnatureofsuchstripesinhorseswouldbeMOST
usefultome。Thereisaparallelcaseinthelegsofthedonkey，andI
havecollectedsomemostcuriouscasesofstripesappearinginvariouscrossedequineanimals。Ihavealsoalargemassofparallelfactsinthebreedsofpigeonsaboutthewingbars。ISUSPECTitwillthrowlightonthecolouroftheprimevalhorse。Sodohelpmeifoccasionturnsup……Myhealthhasbeenlatelyverybadfromoverwork，andonTuesdayIgoforafortnight’shydropathy。Myworkiseverlasting。Farewell。
MydearFox，Itrustyouarewell。Farewell，C。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。D。HOOKER。
MoorPark，Farnham[April26th，1858]……IhavejusthadtheinnermostcocklesofmyheartrejoicedbyaletterfromLyell。Isaidtohim（orhetome）thatIbelievedfromthecharacterofthefloraoftheAzores，thaticebergsmusthavebeenstrandedthere;
andthatIexpectederraticboulderswouldbedetectedembeddedbetweentheupheavedlava—beds;andIgotLyelltowritetoHartungtoask，andnowH。
saysmyquestionexplainswhathadastoundedhim，viz。，largeboulders（andsomepolished）ofmica—schist，quartz，sandstone，etc。，someembedded，andsome40and50feetabovethelevelofthesea，sothathehadinferredthattheyhadnotbeenbroughtasballast。Isthisnotbeautiful？
Thewater—curehasdonemesomegood，butI[am]nothingtoboastofto—
day，sogood—bye。
Mydearfriend，yours，C。D。
CHARLESDARWINTOC。LYELL。
MoorPark，Farnham，April26th[1858]。
MydearLyell，Ihavecomehereforafortnight’shydropathy，asmystomachhadgot，fromsteadywork，intoahorridstate。IamextremelymuchobligedtoyouforsendingmeHartung’sinterestingletter。Theerraticbouldersaresplendid。Itisagrandcaseoffloatingiceversusglaciers。Heoughttohavecomparedthenorthernandsouthernshoresoftheislands。Itiseminentlyinterestingtome，forIhavewrittenaverylongchapteronthesubject，collectingbrieflyallthegeologicalevidenceofglacialactionindifferentpartsoftheworld，andthenatgreatlength（onthetheoryofspecieschanging）Ihavediscussedthemigrationandmodificationofplantsandanimals，inseaandland，overalargepartoftheworld。Tomymind，itthrowsafloodoflightonthewholesubjectofdistribution，ifcombinedwiththemodificationofspecies。Indeed，Iventuretospeakwithsomelittleconfidenceonthis，forHooker，aboutayearago，kindlyreadovermychapter，andthoughhethendemurredgravelytothegeneralconclusion，Iwasdelightedtohearaweekortwoagothathewasinclinedtocomeroundprettystronglytomyviewsofdistributionandchangeduringtheglacialperiod。IhadaletterfromThompson，ofCalcutta，theotherday，whichhelpsmemuch，asheismakingoutformewhatheatourtemperateplantscanendure。Butitistoolongasubjectforanote;andIhavewrittenthusonlybecauseHartung’snotehassetthewholesubjectafloatinmymindagain。ButIwillwritenomore，formyobjecthereistothinkaboutnothing，bathemuch，walkmuch，eatmuch，andreadmuchnovels。Farewell，withmanythanks，andverykindremembrancetoLadyLyell。
Everyours，C。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOMRS。DARWIN。
MoorPark，Wednesday，April[1858]。
Theweatherisquitedelicious。Yesterday，afterwritingtoyou，I
strolledalittlebeyondthegladeforanhourandahalf，andenjoyedmyself——thefreshyetdark—greenofthegrandScotchfirs，thebrownofthecatkinsoftheoldbirches，withtheirwhitestems，andafringeofdistantgreenfromthelarchesmadeanexcessivelyprettyview。AtlastIfellfastasleeponthegrass，andawokewithachorusofbirdssingingaroundme，andsquirrelsrunningupthetrees，andsomewoodpeckerslaughing，anditwasaspleasantandruralasceneaseverIsaw，andIdidnotcareonepennyhowanyofthebeastsorbirdshadbeenformed。Isatinthedrawing—roomtillaftereight，andthenwentandreadtheChiefJustice’ssummingup，andthoughtBernard（SimonBernardwastriedinApril1858asanaccessorytoOrsini’sattemptonthelifeoftheEmperoroftheFrench。
Theverdictwas"notguilty。"）guilty，andthenreadabitofmynovel，whichisfeminine，virtuous，clerical，philanthropical，andallthatsortofthing，butverydecidedlyflat。Isayfeminine，fortheauthorisignorantaboutmoneymatters，andnotmuchofalady——forshemakeshermensay，"MyLady。"IlikeMissCraikverymuch，thoughwehavesomebattles，anddifferoneverysubject。IlikealsotheHungarian;athoroughgentleman，formerlyattacheatParis，andthenintheAustriancavalry，andnowapardonedexile，withbrokenhealth。HedoesnotseemtolikeKossuth，butsays，heiscertain[heis]asincerepatriot，mostcleverandeloquent，butweak，withnodeterminationofcharacter