Ɛpsilon

WCP2999

Letter (WCP2999.2889)

[1]

Fleetwood House.

Beckenham. Kent.

8th. May 1868.

Dear Sir,

I am in receipt of yours1 of the 8th inst. enclosing Tyndall's2 note.3

I will answer him but that answer4 will be a long one—

Do you wish that the [2] answer should go through you or direct from me to him.

I have not received "The scientific aspect of the supernatural",5 but should much like to have it.

It is possible that it has been received [3] during my absence and mislaid.

I hope that now you will not be offended when I tell you that I am unable at the present moment to recollect you.

In this respect my memory has already been deficient.

[4] Names alone being fruitful sources of difficulty with me.

I know several Humphreys but that does not help me to recollect you by your name—

Would you mind enabling me to know with whom I have the honour to communicate [5] by mentioning some circumstance that will identify you to me.

This inability on on [sic] my part to recall people to mind by name alone, extends even [6] to near relations; and has descended to me from my maternal parent.

This confession I hope will be an ample apology.

I am, dear Sir, | Very truly yours | C. F. Varley6 [signature]

Alfred R. Wallace, Esq.

1
The letter has not been found.
2
Tyndall, John (1820-1893). Irish physicist and mountaineer. Professor of natural philosophy at the Royal Institution in 1853; Superintendent of the Royal Institution 1867-1887.
4
Varley's reply to Tyndall on 18 May 1868 was published the the June 1868 issue of The Spiritual Magazine. See WCP7067. https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP7067
5
Wallace, A. R. 1866. The Scientific Aspect of the Supernatural: Indicating the Desirableness of an Experimental Enquiry by Men of Science Into the Alleged Powers of Clairvoyants and Mediums. London: F. Farrah.
6
Varley, Cromwell Fleetwood (1828-1883). British telegraph engineer and spiritualist.

Editorial information

Status: Edited (but not proofed) transcription [Letter (WCP2999.2889)]

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

Revision history

Transcribed by Sherwood, Danni [2020-06-09] Transcription checked by Lo, Yen [2020-10-30] Transcription checked by Beros, Matt [2020-12-31] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2026-04-18]

Please cite as “WCP2999,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP2999