WCP1480

To Thistelton-Dyer¹, Esq.) Parkstone, Dorset.

Jan'y 17th. 1895

Confidential

Dear Mr. Thistelton-Dyer

I have been rather unwell myself the last few days or should have answered your very kind letter sooner. I feel really overpowered. I cannot understand why you or any one should care about my being an F.R.S.², because I have really done so little of what is usually considered scientific work to deserve it. I have for many years felt almost ashamed of the amount of reputation & honour that has been awarded me. I can understand the general public thinking too highly of me, because I know that I have the power of clear exposition, and, I think, also, of logical reasoning. But all the work I have done is more or less amateurish & founded wh wholly on other men's observations; and I always feel myself dreadfully inferior to men like Sir J Hooker³, Huxley⁴, Flower⁵, & scores of younger men who have extensive knowledge of whole departments of biology of which I am totally ignorant. I do not wish however to be thought ungrateful for the many honours that have been given my by the Royal and other Societies, and will therefore place myself entirely in your hands as regards my election to the F.R.S.

I am pleased to hear that Huxley has taken to gardening. I have no doubt he will do some good work with his Saxifrages. For myself the personal attention to my plants occupies all my spare time, and I derive constant enjoyment from the mere contemplation of the infinite variety of forms of leaf & flower, & modes of growth, and strange pecularities [sic] of structure, which are the source of fresh puzzles & fresh delights year by year.

With best wishes, & many thanks for the trouble you are taking on my behalf, | Believe me | Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace.

To Thistelton-Dyer¹, Esq.) Parkstone, Dorset.

Jan'y 17th. 1895

Confidential

Dear Mr. Thistelton-Dyer

I have been rather unwell myself the last few days or should have answered your very kind letter sooner. I feel really overpowered. I cannot understand why you or any one should care about my being an F.R.S.², because I have really done so little of what is usually considered scientific work to deserve it. I have for many years felt almost ashamed of the amount of reputation & honour that has been awarded me. I can understand the general public thinking too highly of me, because I know that I have the power of clear exposition, and, I think, also, of logical reasoning. But all the work I have done is more or less amateurish & founded wh wholly on other men's observations; and I always feel myself dreadfully inferior to men like Sir J Hooker³, Huxley⁴, Flower⁵, & scores of younger men who have extensive knowledge of whole departments of biology of which I am totally ignorant. I do not wish however to be thought ungrateful for the many honours that have been given my by the Royal and other Societies, and will therefore place myself entirely in your hands as regards my election to the F.R.S.

I am pleased to hear that Huxley has taken to gardening. I have no doubt he will do some good work with his Saxifrages. For myself the personal attention to my plants occupies all my spare time, and I derive constant enjoyment from the mere contemplation of the infinite variety of forms of leaf & flower, & modes of growth, and strange pecularities [sic] of structure, which are the source of fresh puzzles & fresh delights year by year.

With best wishes, & many thanks for the trouble you are taking on my behalf, | Believe me | Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace.

[1] [p. 221]

Parkstone, Dorset. January 17, 1893.

Dear Mr. Thiselton-Dyer, — I have been rather unwell myself the last few days or should have answered your very kind letter sooner. I feel really overpowered. I cannot understand why you or anyone should care about my being an F.R.S.,¹ because I have really done so little of what is usually considered scientific work to deserve it. I have for many years felt almost ashamed of the amount of reputation and honour that has been awarded me. I can understand the general public thinking too highly of me, because I know that I have the power of clear exposition, and, I think, also, of logical reasoning. But all the work I have done is more or less amateurish and founded almost wholly on other men's observations; and I always feel myself dreadfully inferior to men like Sir J. Hooker,² Huxley,³ Flower,⁴ and scores of younger men who have extensive knowledge of whole departments of biology of which I am totally ignorant. I do not wish, however, to be thought ungrateful for the many honours that have been given me by the Royal and other Societies, and will therefore place myself entirely in your hands as regards my election to the F.R.S.

I am much pleased to hear that Huxley has taken to gardening. I have no doubt he will do some good work with his saxifrages. For myself the personal attention to my plants occupies all my spare time, and I derive constant enjoyment from the mere contemplation of the infinite variety of forms of leaf and flower, and modes of growth, and strange peculiarities of structure which are the source of fresh puzzles and fresh delights year by year. [2] [p. 222]

With best wishes and many thanks for the trouble you are taking on my behalf, believe me yours very faithfully, | ALFRED R. WALLACE.