To Charles Lyell   2 September [1859]

My dear Lyell

It was very good of you to write about the Flint tools.¹ I feel an uncommon idle curiosity on subject, & last night said to Emma how I sh^d. like to write to you to enquire; but refrained not to give you trouble of answering. I shall look with extreme interest to what you say at Aberdeen: it will be a grand subject for you.² No one, as far as I have seen, has discussed under what circumstances the beds were deposited. Are the beds like those with angular flints at Greenstreet Green, where Lubbock found Elephant remains, & subsequently head of Musk ox?³ Do you remember telling me that you thought that they were glacial, & afterwards enquiring of Arctic travellers about nature of the beach in those icy regions; & now that musk-ox has been found, the story is complete. I have often told it with striking effect.— What ages Men must have lived on the old icy shores to have lost so many weapons! Esquimaux living on beach & on sea & on ice would be likely to lose more than any other races, & have them embedded. It is a grand case, & I am so glad you have investigated it.—

I am very glad you wish to see my clean sheets; I sh^d. have offered them, but did not know whether it would bore you; I wrote by this mornings post to Murray to send them.⁴ Unfortunately I have not got to part which would interest you, I think, most, & which tells most in favour of view: viz Geological Succession— Geographical Distribution, & especially Morphology, Embryology & Rudimentary organs. I will see that the remaining sheets, when printed off, are sent to you. But would you like for me to send last & perfect Revises of the sheets, as I correct them?; if so, send me your address in blank envelope.—

I hope that you will read all, whether dull (specially latter part of Ch. 2.) or not, for I am convinced there is not a sentence which has not bearing on whole argument.— You will find Ch. IV perplexing & unintelligble, without the aid of enclosed queer Diagram, of which I send old & useless proof.—⁵ I have, as Murray says, corrected so heavily as almost to have rewritten it; but yet I fear it is poorly written. Parts are intricate; & I do not think that even you could make them quite clear. Do not, I beg, be in a hurry in committing yourself, (like so many naturalists) to go a certain length & no further; for I am deeply convinced, that it is absolutely necessary to go whole vast length, or stick to creation of each separate species; I argue this point briefly in the last chapter. Remember that your verdict will probably have more influence than my Book in deciding whether such views as I hold, will be admitted or rejected at present,—in the future I cannot doubt about their admittance, & our posterity will marvel as much about the current belief as we do about fossil-shells having been thought to have been created as we now see them.— But forgive me for running on about my hobby-horse.—

You ask about our healths; I cannot give a very flourishing account of Emma or of some of the children; and for myself I am in a very poor way, & quite worn out, & useless for everything. Immediately my last proof is done in 14 or 20 days; we start for 2 months’ Hydropathy & rest—& perhaps that will make a man of me.—

Give our kindest remembrances to Lady Lyell & my dear Master | Yours affectionately | C. Darwin

I have read some of Hookers Introduction to Australian Flora, & he gives up species in grand style.

I enclose P.S. of letter from Wallace lately received.⁶