12^th

I have the old M.S, otherwise the loss would have killed me!¹ The worst is now that it will cause delay in getting to press, & far worst of all I lose all advantage of you having looked over my chapter, except the third part returned.— I am very sorry M^rs Hooker took the trouble of copying the two pages.—

Do not, pray, think of giving up coming here; I sh^d. extremely regret it. With you I can go away the moment my stomach feels bad, & that is the important point for me. I am rather sorry for my private pleasure, though glad for guests’ sakes, that our House will be so full.—²

I much fear after all we shall not be able to send for you: but let me know train by which you will come to Bromley (Mason Hill) & then I will send if I can, if not you must take fly, & always plenty there.

I would advise you to be cautious about stating so broadly (I thought that you perhaps knew of distinct cases unknown to me) about species not varying for many generations & then suddenly varying. To a certain extent I quite believe it; ie that a plant will not vary until after some few generations (perhaps dozen or so) & then will begin to vary possibly suddenly, more likely gradually. But even my belief in this is grounded on very few facts.— I believe another & very distinct explanation may be given of a sort of current belief in the doctrine, viz that variations are often not attended to, & till they are attended to & accumulated, they make no show.—

Ever yours | C. Darwin

I have worked this notion up in (as it seems to me) an important manner in my Ch. on Domestication of Animals & Plants.³