WCP1854

Letter (WCP1854.1744)

[1]

Down.

Bromley.

Kent. S.E.

Jan 1. 1864

Dear Wallace

I am still unable to write otherwise than by dictation. In a letter received 2 or 3 weeks ago from Asa Gray1 he writes "I read lately with gusto Wallace’s exposé [2] of the Dublin man on Bee cells &c"[.]2

Now tho’ I cannot read at present I much want to know where this is published that I may procure a copy. Further on Asa Gray says (after speaking of Agassiz’s3 paper on Glaciers in the Atlantic Magazine4) & his recent book [3] entitled Method of Study5 "Pray set Wallace upon these articles"[.] So Asa Gray seems to think much of your powers of reviewing & I mention this as it assuredly is laudari a laudato.6 I hope you are hard at work & if you are inclined to tell me I sh[oul]d much like to know what you are doing. [4] It will be many months I fear before I shall do any thing.

Pray believe me | yours very sincerely. | E.D7 | Ch. Darwin [signature]

1
Gray, Asa (1810-1888). American botanist.
2
Darwin quotes from a letter he received from Asa Gray on 23 November 1863 (See DCP-LETT-4346). Gray refers to ARW's article defending Darwin against the critique of the Origin of Species by Reverend Samuel Haughton. (See Wallace, A. R. 1863. Remarks on the Rev. S. Haughton's paper on the bee's cell, and on the origin of species. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 3rd series, 12: 303-09.)
3
Agassiz, Jean Louis Rodolphe ("Louis") (1807-1873). Swiss-American naturalist.
4
Agassiz, J. L. R. 1863. The Formation of Glaciers. Atlantic Monthly. November 1863. 568-575.
5
Agassiz, J. L. R. 1863. Methods of Study of Natural History. Boston:Ticknor and Fields.
6
Latin phrase for 'to be praised by one who is himself praised.'
7
The initials of Emma Darwin are struck through and the letter is written in her hand.

Editorial information

Status: Edited (but not proofed) transcription [Letter (WCP1854.1744)]

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

Revision history

Transcribed by Darwin Correspondence Project [2012-06-29] Transcription checked by Beros, Matt [2019-12-20]

Published letter (WCP1854.5937)

[1] [p.148]

Down, Bromley, Kent, S.E. January 1, 1864.

Dear Wa1lace,— I am still unable to write otherwise than by dictation. In a letter received two or three weeks ago from Asa Gray he writes: "I read lately with gusto Wallace's expose of the Dublin man on Bee cells, etc."

Now though I cannot read at present, I much want to know where this is published, that I may procure a copy. Further on Asa Gray says (after speaking of Agassiz's paper on Glaciers in the Atlantic Magazine and his recent book entitled "Method of Study"): "Pray set Wallace upon these article." So Asa Gray seems to think much of your powers of reviewing, and I mention this as it assuredly is laudari a laudato [Latin: praised by the praiseworthy].

I hope you are hard at work, and if you are inclined to tell me I should much like to know What you are doing.

It will be many months, I fear, before I shall do anything.

Pray believe me yours very sincerely, CH. DARWIN

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Published letter (WCP1854.5937)]

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 “WCP1854,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 17 March 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP1854