WCP2974

[1]¹

NETHERBY,

VICTORIA ROAD, S.

SOUTHSEA.

27^th Dec 1909

My dear Sir

In the spring I shall publish a book which I have called "The Laws of Heredity".² It is a longer, but I think a very much better book than "The Principles of Heredity"³ which you were good enough to like. H. H. Turner,⁴ the Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford has contributed a Diagr "Diagrammatic Representation" of some of the leading ideas, and intends, I understand, to issue a volume of his own in which the whole work is diagrammati^cised. You may have heard of him as a friend [2] of Professors Weldon⁵ & Poulton.⁶

I think you may like the book with, perhaps, the exception of three chapters — two on alcohol and one on the "Relation of Mind to Body". I have, however, written very moderately, and there on alcohol, & there is not much in the chapter on the "Relation of Mind to Body". The book contains a new interpretation of "acquired characters" which I feel sure is true, & which I believe will render it impossible to maintain that they are transmitted in the future. People who should be good judges & who have read the manuscript say that I have quite destroyed the Mendelian & mutation hypotheses. I believe I have [3] really; but my criticism is not merely destructive. I think I have discovered what the phenomena on which the experimental school rely actually mean.

I have a very intense belief in & reverence for the work done by you & Darwin.⁷ It seems to me that method is all-important in scientific work & that yours is the only right method — the method of taking all the facts into account & carefully testing all the thinking. There is a great deal about this in the book. I believe I show conclusively that the paraded accuracy of many recent workers consists of nothing more than an ignoring of much that is known to be true. I should feel greatly delighted & honoured if it were possible for you to write an introduction — as [4] short as you pleased. It would be a matter of great pride to me. I do not think it would be necessary for you to read the whole work but only a few chapters. The rest are merely expansions of those in the "Principles". If you approved of that book you would be sure to approve of this also. I know however that you cannot now spare time & labour & shall quite understand if you tell me so. But if you should care to look at the manuscript I could send you a typed copy[.]

I hope you have many happy new years before you.

Yours very truly | G. Archdall Reid⁸ [signature]