Darwin Correspondence Project

Yorkshire Philosophical Society | York

8 Jan. 1868.

My dear Sir

I this morning sent off the last portion of the Index to your book, & delighted I was to see it slide into the letter box.— I have seen no proofs yet, but I suppose they will come soon,— I have a residue of about a dozen or a dozen & a half references which got misplaced & which must be inserted on the proofs.— I can only hope that now it is finished you <will be> pleased with it & think the delay not wholly thrown away.— I also hope that I may never again let myself in for such another job.— I find the work was just doubled by inserting references to all authors' names, as compared with the specimen which I sent you, so that as regards the relation of labour to remuneration I shall look rather blank.— And on the other hand Mr. Murray deluded me into <under>taking the index by an artful insinuation that it would have the advantage of making me, in a manner, an acquaintance of yours, which, I must say was a main cause of my engaging to prepare it, & now, I fear, that acquaintance has been made not in the most favourable manner for me.— I can only repeat that the increased labour spun out the work considerably, so that other & prior engagements came in the way after a time, & their mutual hindrance has been most inconvenient for myself.—

However, I must trust to your goodness to excuse whatever may have been due to fault of mine, & at all events not ``to hate my name for the rest of your life''.—

With all good wishes | I remain | My dear Sir | Yours very truly | W. S. Dallas.

C. Darwin Esqr