From A. R. Wallace   [19 November 1873]¹

Dear Darwin

Yours just received.² Pray act exactly as if nothing had been said to me on the subject. I do not particularly wish for the work, as besides being, as you say, tedious work, it involves a considerable amount of responsibility.³ Still I am prepared to do any literary work of the kind, as I told Bates some time ago, & that is the reason he wrote to me about it.⁴ I certainly think however that it would be in many ways more satisfactory to you if your son did it, & I therefore hope he may undertake it.⁵

Should he however, for any reasons, be unable, I am at your service as a derniére ressort—⁶

In case my meaning is not quite clear, I will say positively, I will not do it, unless your son has the offer & declines it.

Believe me | Dear Darwin | Yours faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace