So far back as 1844, at a time when I had hardly thought of any
serious study of nature, Darwin had written an outline of his
views, which he communicated to his friends Sir Charles Lyell and
Dr. (now Sir Joseph) Hooker. The former strongly urged him to
publish an abstract of his theory as soon as possible, lest some
other person might precede him; but he always refused till he had
got together the whole of the materials for his intended great
work. Then, at last, Lyell's prediction was fulfilled, and,
without any apparent warning, my letter, with the enclosed essay,
came upon him, like a thunderbolt from a cloudless sky! This
forced him to what he considered a premature publicity, and his
two friends undertook to have our two papers read before this
Society.
How different from this long study and preparation--this
philosophical caution--this determination not to make known his
fruitful conception till he could back it up by overwhelming
proofs--was my own conduct.
The idea came to me as it had come to Darwin, in a sudden flash of
insight; it was thought out in a few hours--was written down with
such a sketch of its various applications and developments as
occurred to me at the moment--then copied on thin letter paper and
sent off to Darwin--all within one week.
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