Darwin, C. R. to Lyell, Charles
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Is it fair to take advantage of knowing that Wallace is in the field? Seems hard on CD to lose priority of many years, but does not feel this alters justice of case.
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Baby [Charles Waring Darwin] has much fever. Frightened because three children in village have died from scarlet fever.
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My dear Lyell
Forgive me for adding P.S. to make the case as strong as possible against myself.
Wallace might say “you did not intend publishing an abstract of your views
till you received my communication, is it fair to take advantage of my having freely,
though unasked, communicated to you my ideas, & thus prevent me forestalling
you?” The advantage which I should take being that I am induced to publish
from privately knowing that Wallace is in the field. It seems hard on me that I should
be thus compelled to lose my priority of many years standing, but I cannot feel at all
sure that this alters the justice of the case. First impressions are generally right
& I at first thought it w
Yours most truly | C. Darwin
I have always thought you would have made a first-rate Lord Chancellor; & I now appeal to you as a Lord Chancellor
Emma desires her affectionate thanks, in which I heartily join, to Lady L. for her most kind note.— Etty is very weak but progressing well. The Baby has much fever but we hope not S. Fever.— What has frightened us so much is, that 3 children have died in village from Scarlet Fever, & others have been at death's door, with terrible suffering.