Ɛpsilon

WCP1510

Letter (WCP1510.1289)

[1]

Feby 15. 1876

Dear Wallace

I have read the Preface1 & like & approve of it much — I do not believe that there is a word which Darwin2 would wish altered — It is high time this modest assertion of your claim as an independent originator of Natural Selection shd be published.

ever most truly | Chas Lyell3 [signature]

1
Lyell probably refers to the preface of Wallace, A. R. 1876. The Geographical Distribution of Animals With a Study of the Relations of Living and Extinct Faunas as Elucidating the Past Changes of the Earth's Surface, 2 vols. London, UK: Macmillan & Co.
2
Darwin, Charles Robert (1809-1882). British naturalist, geologist and author, notably of On the Origin of Species (1859).
3
Lyell, Charles (1797-1875). British geologist and author, notably of the influential Principles of Geology (1830-1833). President of the Geological Society of London, 1835-37 and 1849-51.

Editorial information

Status: Edited (but not proofed) transcription [Letter (WCP1510.1289)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by Cooper, Rod [2013-05-13] Transcription checked by Beros, Matt [2019-12-20] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2025-03-03]

Published letter (WCP1510.6394)

[1] [p. 32]

SIR G. LYELL TO A. R. WALLACE

February 15, 1876.

Dear Wallace, — I have read the Preface, and like and approve of it much. I do not believe there is a word which Darwin would wish altered. It is high time this modest assertion. of your claims as an independent originator of Natural Selection should be published. Ever most truly, | CHA. LYELL.

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Published letter (WCP1510.6394)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by Congerton, John [2019-12-17]

Please cite as “WCP1510,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP1510