WCP1967

[1]¹

To C.Darwin.) The Dell, Grays, Essex. June 7th.1876

Dear Darwin Many thanks for your very kind letter. So few people will read my book² at all regularly, that a criticism from one who does so will be very welcome. If as I suppose it is only to p.184 of Vol.I. that you have read, you cannot yet quite see my conclusions on the points you refer to, — (land-molluscs and Antarctic continent). My own conclusions fluctuated during the progress of the book, and I have, I know, occasionally used expressions (the relics of earl earlier ideas) which are not quite consistent with what I say further on. I am positively against any Southern continent as uniting S. America with Australia or New Zealand, as you will see at Vol.I. p.398-403 and 459-466. My general conclusions as to Distribution of Land Mollusca are at Vol.II. pp522-529. When you have read these passages & looked at the general facts which lead to them, I shall be glad to hear if you still differ from me.

Though of course present results as to origin & migrations of genera of mammals, will have to be modified owing to new discoveries, I cannot help thinking that much will remain unaffected, because in all geographical and Geological discoveries the great outlines are soon reached, the details alone remain to be modified. I also think much of the geological evidence is now so accordant with, and explanatory of, geographical distribution, that it is prima facie correct in outline. Nevertheless such vast masses of new facts will come out in the next few years that I quite dread the labour of incorporating them in a new edition.

Now for a little personal matter. For two years I have made up my mind to leave this place, — mainly for two reasons — drought & wind prevent the satisfactory growth of all delicate plants, — and — I cannot stand being unable to attend evening meetings & being obliged to refuse every invitation in London. But I was obliged to stay till I had got it into decent order to attract a customer. At last it is so, & I am offering it for sale, & as soon as it is disposed of I intend to try the neighbourhood of Dorking³ whence there are late trains from Cannon Street & Charing Cross.⁴

I see your post mark was "Dorking" so I suppose you have been staying there. Is it not a lovely country? I hope your health is improved, & when, quite at your leisure, you have waded through my book, I trust you will again let me have a few lines of friendly criticism⁵ & advice.

Yours very faithfully Alfred R Wallace

To C. Darwin.) The Dell, Grays, Essex. June 7th. 1876

Dear Darwin

Many thanks for your very kind letter. So few people will read my book¹ at all regularly, that a criticism from one who does will be very welcome. If as I suppose it is only to p.184 of Vol.I. that you have read, you cannot yet quite see my conclusions on the points you refer to,— (land-molluses and Antarctic continent). My own conclusions fluctuated during the progress of thebook, and I have, I know, occasionally used expressions (the relics of earl earlier ideas) which are not quite consistent with what I say further on. I am positively against any Southern continent as uniting S.America with Australia or New Zealand, as you will see at Vol.I. p.598-405 and 459-488. My general conclusions as the Distribution of Land Molluses are at Vol.II. pp522-529. When you have read these passages & looked at the general facts which lead to them, I shall be glad to hear if you still differ from me.

Though of course present results as to origin & migrations of genera of mammals, will have to be modified owing to new discoveries, I cannot help thinking that much will remain unaffected, because in all geographical and Geological discoveries the great outlines are soon reached, the details alone remain to be modified, I also think such of the geological evidence is now so accordant with, and explanatory of, geographical distribution, that it is prima facie² correct in outline. Nevertheless such vast masses of new facts will come out in the next few years that I quite dread the labour [sic] of incorporating them in a new edition.

Now for a little personal matter. For two years I have made up my mind to leave this place.-mainly for two reasons -drought & wind prevent the satisfactory growth of all delicate plants,— and— I cannot stand being unable to attend evening meetings & being obliged to refuse every invitation in London. But I was obliged to stay till I had got it into decent order to attract a customer. At last it is so, & I am offering it for sale, & as soon as it is disposed of I intend to try the neighbourhood[sic] of Dorking³ whence there are late trains from Cannon Street & Charing Cross.

I see your post mark was "Dorking" so I suppose you have been staying there. Is it not a lovely country? I hope your health is improved & when, quite at your leisure, you have waded through my book, I trust you will again let me have a few lines of friends criticism⁴

[1] [p. 287]

The Dell, Grays, Essex. June 7, 1876.

Dear Darwin, — Many thanks for your very kind letter. So few people will read my book¹ at all regularly, that a criticism from one who does so will be very welcome.

If, as I suppose, it is only to p.184 of Vol. I. that you have read, you cannot yet quite see my conclusions on the points you refer to (land molluscs and Antarctic continent). My own conclusions fluctuated during the progress of the book, and I have, I know, occasionally used expressions (the relics of earlier ideas) which are not quite consistent with what I say further on. I am positively against any Southern continent as uniting South America with Australia or New Zealand, as you will see at Vol. I., pp.398-403 and 459-466. My general conclusions [2] [p. 288] as to Distribution of Land Mollusca² are at Vol. II., pp.522-529. When you have read these passages and looked at the general facts which lead to them, I shall be glad to hear if you still differ from me.

Though, of course, present results as to origin and migrations of genera of mammals will have to be modified owing to new discoveries, I cannot help thinking that much will remain unaffected, because in all geographical and geological discoveries the great outlines are soon reached; the details alone remain to be modified. I also think much of the geological evidence is now so accordant with, and explanatory of, geographical distribution that it is prima facie correct in outline. Nevertheless, such vast masses of new facts will come out in the next few years that I quite dread the labour of incorporating them in a new edition.

Now for a little personal matter. For two years I have made up my mind to leave this place — mainly for two reasons: drought and wind prevent the satisfactory growth of all delicate plants; and I cannot stand being unable to attend evening meetings and being obliged to refuse every invitation in London. But I was obliged to stay till I had got it into decent order to attract a customer. At last it is so, and I am offering it for sale, and as soon as it is disposed of I intend to try the neighbourhood of Dorking,³ whence there are late trains from Cannon Street and Charing Cross.⁴

I see your post-mark was Dorking, so I suppose you have been staying there. Is it not a lovely country ? I hope your health is improved, and when, quite at your [3] [p. 289] leisure, you have waded through my book, I trust you will again let me have a few lines of friendly criticism and advice. — Yours very faithfully, | ALFRED R. WALLACE.