WCP1800

[1]

Pen-y-Bryn, St. Peter’s Road, Croydon.

August 22nd. 1880

Dear D^r. Norris¹

I really do not know whether I can accept your invitation to Birmingham or not. In the first place I am so liable to colds that settle in my throat & chest & linger for weeks or months, that I doubt if I can avoid it travel in winter. I was obliged to refuse an invitation to Dublin for the same reason. Another thing is that all my work for the last two years has been in the preparation [2] of a book² of which I have just sent off the preface & Index to the printers & which contains all that I have to say which has any novelty. As this book will be published in a few weeks I could only give you a paper or some of the subjects treated it in it. This I could I dare say do with some modifications & amplifications, vivâ voce; but if you want a paper to be printed in your Transactions that would hardly do.

In my book I have a new [3] theory or explanation of warm Arctic climates, and also a new explanation of the ^biological relations of New Zealand and Australia, either of which would make an interesting paper or address, but would perhaps not be what your Society want.

If I did come to Birmingham I should greatly prefer to stay with you, and I think our rather old acquaintanceship should be a sufficient reason for this [4] without giving any offence to D^r. Hislop³ [sic].

My only work now is using up and reasoning on other peoples’ observations (combined with my own)[.] I do not do my ^original natural history work, as usually understood, & therefore have a difficulty in finding fresh subjects for a paper. I will think of the matter, & you can let me know what you think.

Believe me | Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

D. Rich.d Norris M.D.