Ɛpsilon

WCP3002

Author’s draft (WCP3002.2892)

[1]1

Hurstpierpoint, Sussex.

May 26th. 1868

Dear Mr. Lewes

I wrote a letter2 to the "Pall Mall Gazette" a week back in answer to yours on "spiritualism &c"3. as I had previously written one in answer to Prof. Tyndall.4, 5 I merely wish you to know that an answer was sent,— and as your name has evidently much weight with the Editor,6 you may perhaps think it more satisfactory & more worthy of your reputation to take part in a question where free discussion is allowed, than in one where your opponents7 [2] are forbidden to speak.

I wrote strongly, because I thought both you & Prof. Tyndall are in error and in ignorance of your error, but I believe that I used no expressions that were not permissible in fair discussion.

I remain | Dear Sir | yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

PS. I write now because I shall be out of England after the 28th till July. A.R.W

1
In ARW’s handwriting, “1.a)”.
2
See ARW to Frederick Greenwood [19-22 May 1868] (WCP3001.2891).
3
Lewes, G. H. 1868. Science and Spiritualism. Pall Mall Gazette (19 May), p. 3.
4
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.
5
See ARW to John Tyndall, 8 May 1868 (WCP1487.1266).
6
Greenwood, Frederick (1830-1909). British journalist, newspaper editor and author. Editor of the Pall Mall Gazette 1856-1880.
7
In ARW’s handwriting, “G. H. Lewes Esq.” at the lower left-hand corner of page 1.

Editorial information

Status: Edited (but not proofed) transcription [Author’s draft (WCP3002.2892)]

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

Revision history

Transcribed by Catchpole, Caroline [2013-04-15] Transcription checked by Beros, Matt [2020-03-19] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2026-04-18]

Please cite as “WCP3002,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP3002