Ɛpsilon

WCP2291

Letter (WCP2291.2181)

[1]

Cambridge, Mass. U.S.A.

19 October 1872.

Mr. A. R. Wallace,

Dear Sir.

I am enabled by the kind introduction of Prof. Leopold Noa,1 which I enclose, to gratify a desire I have cherished for some time: namely, to express my thanks to you for the pleasure and profit I have experienced in my studies through your agency. A remark which you made in one of your addresses2 before the Entomological Society, quoted in one of our newspapers, led me to the reading of Mr. Spencer's3 "Principles of Biology."4 That book has been a revelation to me, brought up by association a believer, an unreasoning believer, almost, in special creation, for I had not yet had time enough in life to enter into the study of such generalities.

Will you have the kindness to accept the pamphlet which I mail with this note? and believe me

With great respect | B. Pickmann Mann5 [signature]

1
Noa, Leopold (1827-1897). English born resident of Boston. Previously professor of modern languages at Washington University.
2
Wallace, A. R. 1872. The President's address. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of London 1872: li-lxxv.
3
Spencer, Herbert (1820-1903). British philosopher, sociologist, and prominent classical liberal political theorist.
4
Spencer, Herbert. 1864-7. The Principles of Biology. Williams and Norgate.
5
Mann, Benjamin Pickman (1848-1926). American entomologist.

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP2291.2181)]

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

Revision history

Transcribed by Lucas, Paula [2018-08-15] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2026-04-18]

Please cite as “WCP2291,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP2291