Ɛpsilon

WCP3312

Letter (WCP3312.3280)

[1]1

Blandford Rd

Broadstone.

April 26 1911.

Dear Sir,

I feel I should like to tell you how much I have been helped by some of your books. I well remember how, when quite a youth, the knowledge that you, who accepted all Darwin's2 views, stood for what I may call the 'spiritual' side of nature, was a great help to me.

Now I have just finished the 'World, Life',3 & again found & have found amongst others the chapter on pain in animals very helpful. I have long felt that the small [2] brain proves of the lower creation meant a small capacity for feeling pain & it was nice to hear another argument to the same effect.

I am here in charge of this parish during Mr. Slent's4 absence, & should very much like, if you are not too busy, to call on you personally to thank you. Perhaps you will let me know.

Yours very faithfully | (Rev.) G. E. Boyle5 [signature]

[3]6

1
In ARW’s handwriting, "About 5 p.m.".
2
Darwin, Charles Robert (1809-1882). British naturalist, geologist and author, notably of On the Origin of Species (1859).
3
Wallace, A. R. 1910. The world of life: a manifestation of creative power, directive mind and ultimate purpose. London: Chapman & Hall.
4
Slent has not been identified.
5
Boyle, Gerald Egerton (1880-1948). Church of England clergyman.
6
In ARW’s handwriting, “Rev. G. E. Boyle”.

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP3312.3280)]

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

Revision history

Transcribed by Benny, Ruth [2014-11-11] Transcription checked by Benny, Ruth [2014-11-11] Transcription checked by Sherwood, Danni [2020-08-10] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2026-04-18]

Please cite as “WCP3312,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP3312