Ɛpsilon

WCP1514

Letter (WCP1514.1293)

[1]1

Kildare

Bournemouth

Dec 5/87.

Dear Mr Wallace,

In some reminiscences I am putting down I am referring to the Jamaica business2 and the prosecution of Governor Eyre;3 pointing out how largely the leading Evolutionists figured on the Committee—Darwin4 Huxley5 & myself.6Am I right in including you? Of the others I am certain, but about you7 I am not certain.

[2] I have been leading an invalid life for a year & a half, almost hopelessly for a long time past. But I am now improving rapidly. I hope you are flourishing.

sincerely yours | Herbert Spencer [signature]

[3] [Numbers and calculations in ARW’s hand, not transcribed]

1
In ARW’s handwriting, "Answd”.
2
The Jamaica Committee was established in 1866 to investigate Edward Eyre’s (Governor of Jamaica) actions in suppressing the Morant Bay Rebellion of 1865.
3
Eyre, Edward John (1815-1901). Colonial administrator. Emigrated to Australia in 1833. Lieutenant-governor of New Zealand’s South Island, 1846–53. Governor of St Vincent, 1854–9. Temporary lieutenant-governor of Jamaica, 1862; governor, 1864–66. Suspended, 1866, then recalled for his role in the suppression of the uprising known as the Morant Bay rebellion. Faced criminal and civil charges but was never convicted and eventually received a government pension. (ODNB)
4
Darwin, Charles Robert (1809-1882). British naturalist, geologist and author, notably of On the Origin of Species (1859).
5
Huxley, Thomas Henry (1825-1895). British biologist and author, known as "Darwin's Bulldog".
6
Spencer, Herbert (1820-1903). British philosopher, sociologist, and prominent classical liberal political theorist.
7
Wallace did include his signature in support of the Committee.

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP1514.1293)]

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

Revision history

Transcribed by Catchpole, Caroline [2013-03-25] Transcription checked by Catchpole, Caroline [2013-03-27] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2025-03-03]

Please cite as “WCP1514,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP1514