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Read Enclosure [enclosure is missing]

Down. July 5th. — 1844

My Dear Emma.

I have just finished my sketch of my species theory. If, as I believe that my theory is true & if it be accepted even by one competent judge, it will be a considerable step in science.

I therefore write this, in case of my sudden death, as my most solemn & last request, which I am sure you will consider the same as if legally entered in my will, that you will devote 400£ to its publication & further will yourself, or through Hensleigh, take trouble in promoting it.— I wish that my sketch be given to some competent person, with this sum to induce him to take trouble in its improvement. & enlargement.— I give to him all my Books on Natural History, which are either scored or have references at end to the pages, begging him carefully to look over & consider such passages, as actually bearing or by possibility bearing on this subject.— I wish you to make a list of all such books, as some temptation to an Editor. I also request that

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you loan hand over him all those scraps roughly divided in eight or ten brown paper Portfolios:— The scraps with copied quotations from various works are those which may aid my Editor.— I also request that (or some amanuensis) will aid in deciphering any of the scraps which the Editor may think possibly of use.— I leave to the Editor's judgment whether to interpolate these facts in the text, or as notes, or under appendices. As the looking over the references & scraps will be a long labour, & as the correcting & enlarging & altering my sketch will also take considerable time, I leave this sum of 400£ as some remuneration & any profits from the work.— I consider that for this the Editor is bound to get the sketch published either at a Publishers or his own risk. Many of the scraps in the Portfolios contains mere rude suggestions & early views now useless, & many of the facts

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will probably turn out as having no bearing on my theory.

With respect to Editors.— Mr Lyell would be the best if he would undertake it: I believe he wd find the work pleasant & he wd learn some facts new to him. As the Editor must be a geologist, as well as Naturalist. The next best Editor would be Professor Forbes of London. or Mr Lonsdale (if his health wd permit). The next best (& quite best in many respects) would be Professor Henslow??.      Dr Hooker would perhaps correct the Botanical Part probably = possibly he would do as Editor=     Dr Hooker would be very good The next, Mr Strickland.— Professor Owen wd be very good, but I presume he wd not undertake such a work. If no[ne] of these would undertake it, I would request you to consult with Mr Lyell, or some other capable man, for some Editor, a geologist & naturalist.

Should one other hundred Pounds, make the difference of procuring a good Editor, I request earnestly that you will raise 500£.

My remaining collection in Natural History, may be given to anyone or any Museum, where it wd be accepted:—

    My dear Wife

    Yours affect

    C. R. Darwin

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If there shd be any difficulty in getting an editor who would go thoroughily into the subject & think of the bearing of the passages marked in the Books & copied out on scraps of Paper, then let my sketch be published as it is, stating that it was done several years ago & from memory, without consulting any works & with no intention of publication in its present form—

 

Mrs C. Darwin.

 

P S
Lyell, especially with the aid of Hooker (& of any good zoological aid) would be best of all

Without an Editor will pledge himself to give up time to it, it would be of no use paying such a sum.—

 

Hooker by far best Man to edit my Species volume Aug. 1854

NB When new Will made make Trusts open.

[not in Darwin's hand:] Directions about publishing Origin 1844