But it is quite likely that you may object on the ground that you might be publishing before me (I hope to publish in a year at furthest), so that it would hamper and bother you; and secondly you may object to the loss of time, for I daresay it would take an hour and a half to read.

It certainly would be of immense advantage to me; but of course you must not think of doing it if it would interfere with your own work.
I do not consider this request in futuro as breaking my promise to give no more trouble for some time.
From Lyell's letters, he is coming round at a railway pace on the mutability of species, and authorises me to put some sentences on this head in my preface.
I shall meet Lyell on Wednesday at Lord Stanhope's, and will ask him to forward my letter to you; though, as my arguments have not struck him, they cannot have force, and my head must be crotchety on the subject; but the crotchets keep firmly there.

I have given your opinion on continuous land, I see, too strongly.
LETTER 50.

TO S.P.WOODWARD.

Down, July 18th [1856].
Very many thanks for your kindness in writing to me at such length, and I am glad to say for your sake that I do not see that I shall have to beg any further favours.