From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
5 Sept [1868]
Source of text:
DAR 106: B67
Summary:
Accepts invitation.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[11 Sept 1868]
Source of text:
DAR 148: 426b
Summary:
ARW’s wife will accompany him to Down.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[14 Sept 1868]
Source of text:
DAR 82: A25–6
Summary:
On sounds produced by Euchirus longimanus beetle. Sends a pair by post.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
18 Sept [1868]
Source of text:
DAR 82: A14–17
Summary:
Submits a 15–point argument against CD’s views on the coloration of female birds and insects.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
4 Oct 1868
Source of text:
DAR 106: B68–69
Summary:
Sexual differences in coloration. Sexual selection versus natural selection as explanations. ARW continues to argue against sexual selection, saying that natural selection, in keeping the female dull for protection, would account for differences in sexual colouring more effectively than inheritance and partial transmission of sexually selected male colours. Colours of female birds of paradise. Protective coloration. Disagrees with CD on coincidence of hidden nests and bright colours of females.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
20 Jan 1869
Source of text:
DAR 106: B73–4
Summary:
Dedication of Malay Archipelago to CD.
Comments on scientific papers.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
30 Jan 1869
Source of text:
DAR 106: B75–6
Summary:
Argues that [general variability] of species, not single variations or sports, is basis for modification and adaptation to new conditions.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
10 Mar 1869
Source of text:
DAR 106: B77–8
Summary:
Weir’s paper on relation of protection to colour of caterpillars [Trans. R. Entomol. Soc. Lond. (1869): 21–6; (1870): 337–9] confirms ARW’s hypothesis.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
24 Mar 1869
Source of text:
DAR 84.1: 112–15
Summary:
Comments on Fritz Müller’s book [Facts and arguments for Darwin].
Responds to CD’s corrections of his work [Malay Archipelago].
Plumage of birds of paradise.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
18 Apr [1869]
Source of text:
DAR 106: B79–80
Summary:
Expands upon their differences in regard to man and the question of the existence of forces not yet recognised by science.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
23 June [1869]
Source of text:
DAR 106: B81–2
Summary:
Asks whether sexual selection could produce the changing plumules or "battledore" scales on the wings of certain butterflies.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
20 Oct 1869
Source of text:
DAR 106: B86–7
Summary:
Looks forward to Descent, though he expects to find more to differ with than in any other of CD’s books.
Problems of usefulness of incipient organs and of the independent origin of similar complex organs are real difficulties.
Plans a little book on "Distribution of animals".
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
4 Dec [1869]
Source of text:
DAR 106: B88–9
Summary:
Inquires about arrangements for the German translation and publication of their original Linnean Society papers [Collected papers 2: 3–19].
ARW thinks he has hit upon a solution to problem of geological time.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
18 May 1860
Source of text:
The British Library (Add MS 46434: 21–23v)
Summary:
Pleasure in ARW’s approbation of the Origin. Other supporters among scientists. ARW’s generosity.
Attacks by Owen, Sedgwick, and others.
Anticipation of natural selection by Matthew in 1830.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
24 [May 1862]
Source of text:
The British Library (Add MS 46434: 25)
Summary:
Quarterly Review piece written by Bishop Wilberforce with aid of Owen.
Other reviews mentioned.
Health.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
20 Aug [1862]
Source of text:
The British Library (Add MS 46434: 28)
Summary:
Family illnesses.
On disposition of wild honeycomb gift.
Discounts the difficulty presented by ostrich wings.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
[29? Sept 1863]
Source of text:
The British Library (Add. MS. 46434: 36–7b)
Summary:
Baffling problems with Melastoma. Appreciates ARW’s help with it and the "gorze case".
Has read report of ARW’s paper [to Newcastle BAAS meeting, "On the geographical distribution of animal life"] in the Reader [2 (1863): 352–3].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
1 Jan 1864
Source of text:
The British Library (Add. MS 46434: 31)
Summary:
Asa Gray’s high opinion of ARW as a reviewer [reference to S. Haughton’s paper on bees’ cells, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 3d ser. 11 (1863): 415–29, reviewed by ARW in "Remarks on the Rev. S. Haughton’s paper", Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 3d ser. 12 (1863): 303–9].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
[c. 10 Apr 1864]
Source of text:
The Argyll Papers, Inveraray Castle (NRAS 1209/856)
Summary:
Has seen that ARW has read a paper to the Linnean Society.
Thinks that Herbert Spencer’s Social Statics (Spencer 1851) would be too deep for him.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
28 [May 1864]
Source of text:
The British Library (Add. MS 46434: 39)
Summary:
Response to ARW’s papers on Papilionidae ["On the phenomena of variation and geographical distribution", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 25 (1866): 1–71; abstract in Reader 3 (1864): 491–3],
and man ["The origin of human races", J. Anthropol. Soc. Lond. 2 (1864): clviii–clxxxvi].
The former is "really admirable" and will be influential.
The idea of the man paper is striking and new. Minor points of difference. Conjectures regarding racial differences; the possible correlation between complexion and constitution. His Query to Army surgeons to determine this point. Offers ARW his notes on man, which CD doubts he will be able to use.
On sexual selection in "our aristocracy"; primogeniture is a scheme for destroying natural selection.
[Letter incorrectly dated March by CD.]
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project