From W. S. Dallas   8 July 1880

My dear M^r. Darwin

You will see that your son’s article is printed in the Pop. Sci. Review, & I think it makes a very nice paper.—¹ I read it carefully & made a few alterations which seemed necessary, but it did not require so much touching up as he seemed to expect when he returned the proof— I have to thank you for the loan of the woodcuts also, which shall be returned to Mess. Clowes,—& I have suggested to M^r. Bogue that as you kindly gave us the MS. your son should have some separate copies of the article—² I have not heard from him (which is no novelty) & so do not know what he will do in the matter.—

I have yet another matter to write about— A friend of mine, M^r. John Wise, told me the other day that he was in London to see about the publication of some poems, which he proposed to dedicate to you, his proclivities being all in favour of the theory of evolution, & his poems being written with a view to the demonstration of the fact that, contrary to the opinion frequently entertained by Artists (using the term in the broadest sense) there is no necessary antagonism between Science & poetry.— I have not seen his poems, but have no doubt they will be of respectable quality.— Of his literary powers I have a very high opinion,— in fact as he has been for some 20 years connected with the Westminster Review, & for a considerable part of that time as writer of the “Belles Lettres” section, there need be little doubt about his qualifications.— I hope, therefore, that if he should write to you you will kindly take his request into favourable consideration.³

Yours very truly | W. S. Dallas.