WCP1700

[1]

Rosehill, Dorking

April 13th 1877

Dear Sir

I have never said that "no savage race existed" that had not fallen from a higher civilization, — but that there is much evidence that many savage races have been preceded by others of a higher civilization. My views on this question are summarised in my Address to the Biological Section of the Brit[ish] Association at Glasgow last year (See "Nature" Sept[ember] 7th 1876) and my general views on the question of the origin of man in the last chapters of my "Contributions to the Theory of Natural Selection" [2] 2nd. Ed[ition], and in the Appendix. You will see that my views differ considerably from those of Darwin & others, but I mention the antiquity of man, & his origin by descent from a lower animal form, — differing mainly as to the mode by which that descent was effected, & as to the essential difference of man's moral & mental nature from that of the lower animals.

I remain | Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

James Hooper Esq[uire]