WCP2656

[1]^1,2

61 Coleshill St[reet]. Eaton Sq[uare]. S,W³

Ap[ril]. 3 / [18]84

Dear Sir

I received with feelings of great gratification your letter of the 5^th inst[ance] relative to my book "The Creed of Science"⁴, I have to apologise to you for not acknowledging it sooner but in the first instance, it was not forwarded to me ^{in Ireland where I was till lately} for some time and in the next place I have been travelling about for the past fortnight & had not time to answer it properly. I will only now say with reference to the book that I value your approval very highly, knowing as I do that your name as well as M^r Darwin's [2] will be historically associated with that great idea & Hypothesis[?]⁵ the philosophical side of which is so fully ^largely discussed in my book. But I am also pleased that my Chap[ter]. "To the poor"⁶ should have found favour with you as there is none other that I consider of more importance or with which I took more pains — to speak the words not only of Justice but of "truth & [1 word illeg.]". I felt when writing it that I had only space to give the essentials of the controversy — hardly indeed so much — and since then I have been meditating much on the Social Question in conjunction with the rural and economical question [1 word illeg.] [3]⁷ inseparably bound up with it.

I hope in the course of the year to be in a position to bring the result of my fuller reflections before the public. E. de Laveleye⁸ the Belgian economist & philosopher was good enough as well as you to approve highly of my Chapter 'on Science & Socialism', but I feel it to be a tremendous[?] problem — this one of poverty and how to cure it, & I am sometimes despondent about each and every case. However we must try what we can. The public conscience is perhaps more accessible to consideration of justice than it was ^even a quarter of a century ago. & the people are going[?] to get more power to control their rulers. But I don[']t believe in a speedy[?] cure of poverty. or an early reign of righteousness. the old [1 word illeg.] of selfishness & [1 word illeg.] Egoism is too universal & too intense [4] & then sweeping changes have unknown consequences & perhaps endless confusion & danger of anarchy as in France. Still I would say nothing to damp the ardo[u]r of those who strive for justice.

With reference to y[ou]^r inquiry whether I might not be disposed to join the Land Nationalisation Society⁹ I can only say this at present that my position as Professor of Political Economy & Jurisprudence¹⁰ in Queen's College Belfast would not permit me. Besides though I can see desirable ends & though some that I see coincide with yours I have not yet made up my mind as [to] the comparative efficiency & desirability of means. This is just what I am at present thinking ^over as¹¹ deeply as I can. & getting help where I can from books & conversation with thoughtful people. I had already got your book¹² last autumn & read it [5]¹³ with great eagerness & I believe[?] some considerable gain. but I was at the time so much occupied also with other work including the publication of my lectures that I did not come to a final conclusion on the question of Land Nationalisation, and I put your book aside till I get more leisure to read it a second time. I was glad to get the information you kindly gave of the Belgian periodical[?] advocating[?] a [1 word illeg.] Socialism which would [1 word illeg.] on the best of our [2 words illeg.]. In this direction I believe our best hope lies. and I shall get what has been said as soon as possible — if not through the London Library¹⁴ — direct from the publishers[.]

In conclusion I will say that it would give me much pleasure to have a [6] conversation with you on all these and some other topics & perhaps after Easter when the weather is a little finer you would permit me the pleasure of calling on you in the country¹⁵, or arrange for a meeting where you might [1 word illeg.] here [2 words illeg] — I shall be here now for some months busy at work as my duties are done till next autumn in Ireland¹⁶.

I remain, Dear Sir, | yours faithfully | William Graham[signature]

A.Russel Wallace Esq[uire].

LD.D. F.R.G.S.^17,18