Ɛpsilon

WCP2104

Letter (WCP2104.1994)

[1]1

27 Jany 1868

Dear Wallace

The memorial is excellent.2 I wanted to insert some stronger expression about your original papers & claims as a philosophical writer &c &c but Huxley3 thought it better we should say all the viva voce & [2] in letters to friends.

He says there are some in the Government who would be against "speculative & theorizing men & who want a practical curator["]—

I have addressed it to "The Lords of the Committee of Council on Education." They have dropped "Privy Council" [3] but you will have by & by to address the Secretary4— when sending in the certificate— This last is given to Murchison5 who is to send it to Owen6. Huxley & I think it best to get his (Owen's) name before we sign.

I will lose no time.

ever truly yours | Cha Lyell [signature]

I have got the list of your papers[.]

1
In ARW’s handwriting, "About museum applc".
2
A memorial (presumed lost) was sent to the Committee of Council on Education recommending ARW for the directorship of the proposed Bethnal Green Museum. The memorial was signed by Lyell, Darwin, Huxley, Roderick Murchinson, and Richard Owen.
3
Huxley, Thomas Henry (1825-1895). British biologist known as "Darwin's Bulldog".
4
Cole, Henry (1808-1882). British civil servant and inventor. Director of the South Kensington Museum 1857-73.
5
Murchison, Roderick Impey (1792-1871). British geologist; served four times as President of the Royal Geographical Society.
6
Owen, Richard (1804-1892). British biologist, comparative anatomist and palaeontologist.

Editorial information

Status: Edited (but not proofed) transcription [Letter (WCP2104.1994)]

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

Revision history

Transcribed by Cooper, Rod [2013-03-27] Transcription checked by Catchpole, Caroline [2013-03-27] Transcription checked by Beros, Matt [2020-09-15] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2025-03-03]

Please cite as “WCP2104,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP2104