WCP3147

[1]¹

56, RUSSELL SQUARE.

(London, W. C.)

4th December 93

My dear Sir —

I trust you will not feel put out if, as an individual woman and by a private letter, I venture to offer your homage and thanks for your published utterance respecting women, which I have read in the Daily Chronicle² of today. At this time of day, it is true our prospects are no longer what they were and you as their [2] champion resemble happiness as characterized by Goethe: — Schön begleitet Gleich einem Füssten pflegt das Glück zu nahn.

Nevertheless I believe it is not often that the messages of hope and faith in the future as modified by the result of woman free, woman equal and woman fraturnal through education and citizenship is proclaimed to the ignorant and heedless majority by a great veteran and prophet of science like [3] yourself, and it is very glorious and inspiring to read of such hope and faith undimmed by the weight of years, nor checked by any other influences tending to make men if not conservative, at least – as a French man said of the English retardatif.

I do not presume further by commenting in detail on your words. They all stuck responsior chords, for you were reciting my own creed concerning men and women. I have been waiting for [4] the Daily Chronicle to range itself on the right side on this question, and if the views for which it has in this instance sought your support and your utterance are not in your case, as in its own case, new convictions expressed for the first time, you will, I trust, overlook my ignorance and accept as the rest of the cordial gratitude and affectionate respect of

Your obedient servant | Caroline A. Foley³ [signature]

(M. A. London)

A Russel Wallace Esq. F. R. S. &c. &c.