WCP3317

[1]

Wesel, Zitadelle¹

3.IX.12.

Dear Dr. Wallace,

It was a more than kind thought which prompted you to send me the copy of "Man's Place in the Universe"² in its new form. Nothing that has come to me here for a very long time has cheered and rejoiced me so much as this token of your unaltered friendship. I have the former edition of your work at home, but want of time & peace & quiet prevented my reading it before I came to Germany. Naturally, however, this new copy, with the words which you have so kindly written in it, is to me far, far more valuable than the old, & I shall always treasure it. I have not written sooner to thank you, as I wished first to read the book, so that I could tell you generally what impression it made upon me. Of course, my knowledge of astonomy, & particularly of astrophysics, is very limited, & I could not presume to attempt a detailed[2] detailed[sic] criticism, even if I were free to write at the requisite length.

The mass of evidence which you produce in support of your contention that the visible stellar universe is finite & forms one connected whole seems to me overwhelming, & I was greatly impressed by the facts & opinions which you quote. All I had previously read & heard on this subject pointed to the opposite conclusion. The evidence for the existence of a "solar cluster" & the central position which this occupies, was also quite new to me, but equally convincing. To you main final conclusion, however, namely that our earth is almost certainly the only inhabited globe in the universe, I am not yet quite converted. But perhaps I shall be forced to accept this conclusion, when I have thought over the matter long enough. Without doubt I am influenced by an "a priori" opinion, which rests on no evidence whatever. I read in the "Review of Reviews"³ a long review of[3] of[sic] your book when it first appeared; & I remember how strange the conclusion you reached then seemed to me. An opinion on prejudice which for years one has held firmly is not easily vanquished. I have never assumed that the possible forms of life on other heavenly bodies could bear the remotest resemblence to those on the earth. But, since I have long been unable to make any very sharp distinction in my mind between "organic" & "inorganic", I thought it quite probable that every heavenly body, as a centre of inorganic activity or life, had been, was or would be also a centre of organic life. Whether it is quite inpossible that the known elements, which apparently obey "earthly" physical laws, combine in forms or orders of matter totally different from those which they take on our earth, I am not chemist enough to say. Could one not postulate a physical basis of life as different from protoplasm as this is from air? If such suppositions are nonsense then[4] then[sic] I must admit I can find no flaw in your argument; always assuming that the evidence of the spectroscope & results of spectrum analysis are as irrefutable & certain as modern astronomers hold them to be. It is very difficult for me, who have never even seen a spectroscope, not to have doubts on this point.

I hope my thoughts & doubts will not appear to you too stupid or presumptuous. You will, I hope, at least see that I have read your book with profound interest & that it has opened new vistas of thought & speculation for me.

In Chapter VII, p.p. 123, 124, I noticed what appear to me to be two mathematical errors. The first is in Mr. J.E. Gore's⁴ calculation, which you quote, of the total number of stars, on the assumption that the ratio of increase remains constant from magnitude to magnitude. Taking the number of stars of the 10th magnitude as only two millions (you give, on p.122, the figure 2,311,000), I find[5] I find[sic] that, on the above assumption, the star total, down to (& including) the 17th magnitude should be about 18,000 millions. Even down to & including only the 16th magnitude, I reach a total of about 5,000 millions. If I am right, your argument in the passage in question becomes still stronger. The other error, however, if error it be, is in the opposite direction. You say, namely on page 124, that taking the light given by stars down to magnitude 9 1/2 as being one-eightieth of full moonlight, & assuming that the numbers of successively lower magnitudes increase at the ratio of 3.5 down to magnitude 17 1/2, the light of all these stars combined should be at least 7 times as great as moonlight. My calculation makes this total light rather less than 17/80 (seventeen-eightieths) of full moonlight. Very possibly I am wrong, but I can find no mistake in my figures. I would send them to you, but this would lengthen my letter considerably[6] considerably[sic], & I fear it might be thought that they had some occult meaning.

Of my life here there is little to relate. My health remains quite good & I endeavour to occupy my time as usefully & pleasantly as circumstances permit. I have now completed my revision of the translation⁵ of "Hermann & Dorothea",⁶ & was helped very materially by your criticism and suggestions. A part of each day I employ in extending my knowledge of the German tongue & literature — my most obvious task here. I am now also learning Dutch, which bears a very great family resemblence to German, & a lesser, but still great, resemblence to English. My correspondence is almost entirely in German, & I have not written so long a letter as this in English for a very long while. I have also read less & less English. Altogether I do not find so very much time for reading. The leisure & peace which I here enjoy are not so untroubled and you[7] you[sic] would think. My fellow-prisoners,⁷ mostly quite young men, officers & students, who rarely remain more than three months in the fortress, & often come for much shorter periods, bring plenty of life & sound into the old barrack in which I am confined. On the drill-ground before my window there is also every day, during the greater part of the year, noise & movement. Perhaps it is as well that one is prevented from becoming altogether a hermit. I am not altogether cut off from Nature's wonders; there are a number of fine old trees, & even some small gardens, belonging to officers & officials, within the fortress walls. On my window-sill I have some geraniums.

Your firm handwriting gives me reason to believe that you are in good health. I hope that most sincerely that this is the case & that Mrs⁸ and Miss Wallace⁹ are also well. Please remember me to them. In[8] In[sic] a little more than two years time¹⁰ I shall be free, I hope, & trust then to see you as vigorous & hearty as ever.

Of course, I shall not expect a regular answer to this letter, but perhaps Miss Wallace would be so kind as to send me card in token of your having received it.

Always gratefully yours | Vivian Brandon¹¹ [signature]

PS I was so much concerned with the subject matter of your book that I omitted to express my admiration for the enterprise which has produced this truly "popular' edition. It is splendid that such a work should now be placed within the reach of all who are capable of understanding it. Your photograph, on the paper cover, is excellent. I have pasted it in as frontispiece.

V.B.