My dear Lyell

You once gave me intense pleasure, or rather delight, by the way you were interested, in a manner I never expected, in my Coral-reef notions;² & now you have again given me similar pleasure by the manner you have noticed my Species work.³ Nothing could be more satisfactory to me, & I thank you for myself, & even more for the subject-sake, as I know well that sentence will make many fairly consider the subject, instead of ridiculing it. Although your previously felt doubts on the immutability of species,⁴ may have more influence in converting you (if you be converted) than my Book; yet as I regard your verdict as far more important in my own eyes & I believe in eyes of world than of any other dozen men, I am naturally very anxious about it. Therefore, let me beg you to keep your mind open till you receive (in perhaps a fortnights time) my latter chapters which are the most important of all on the favourable side. The last chapter which sums up & balances in a mass all the arguments contra & pro, will, I think, be useful to you.—

I cannot too strongly express my conviction of the general truth of my doctrines, & God knows I have never shirked a difficulty.— I am foolishly anxious for your verdict. Not that I shall be disappointed if you are not converted; for I remember the long years it took me to come round; but I shall be most deeply delighted if you do come round, especially if I have a fair share in the conversion. I shall then feel that my career is run, & care little whether I ever am good for anything again in this life.—

Thank you much for allowing me to put in the sentence about your “grave doubt”.—⁵

So much & too much about myself.—

I have read with extreme interest in the Aberdeen Paper about the Flint-tools: you have made the whole case far clearer to me: I suppose that you did not think evidence sufficient about Glacial period.⁶

With cordial thanks for your splendid notice of my Book | Believe me, my dear Lyell | Your affectionate disciple | Charles Darwin I start for “Ilkley Wells

Hydropathic Establishment

near Otley, Yorkshire”ramme on Oct. 3^d. by which time, thank God, I shall have finished last revises, index & all. My health is much broken.—

P.S. I have just received your letter.—⁷ I much fear it is too late for the Whale correction; but I have written to enquire.—⁸

I will write again in few days—

Many thanks for the letter just received. It is a horrid bore about the whale.— In Lecture to R.I. Owen showed that he believed in whale.—⁹