WCP3222

[1]¹

PARKSTONE HEIGHTS,

DORSET.

June 25 1904

Dear Dr Wallace

Last night, I finished reading out to my wife² your delightful book "Man's Place in the Universe",³ and, although I have no doubt you are quite tired of receiving criticisms & praises of yr work. I cannot resist the pleasure of telling you how much we have admired & enjoyed it.

Your finely designed [2] plan, the skilful strategy with which you have marshalled yr armies of facts; and the invincible way in which you have concentrated them upon a triumphal conclusion, are beyond all praise.

We were not unacquainted with the subject, having Proctor’s & other works in our library, & having kept fairly well "read up" in both the geology & the astronomy of the subject. But the lucid & plain way in which yr work is written [3] must make it understandable to even those [illeg.] unacquainted with the matter.

As we [illeg.] first agree in believing that "Intelligent way" in the vac," I enclose a little, very immature, contribution of mine to the subject — presented for private circulation some years ago — I sent you a copy at the time but it miscarried.

I should have sought the pleasure of expressing my admiration, for this & your other works, to you in person, [4] but that advancing age & defects of health have obliged me of late rigorously to abstain: from either paying or receiving visits; (except for our children & numerous grandchildren). — Pray therefore, pardon my inflicting this work upon you.

With every good wish | I am yrs truly | Horace Dobell⁴ [signature]

A.R. Wallace Esq. &c &c &c