WCP3378

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Jan^y 10th. 1890

Messrs Macmillan & Co.¹

Dear Sirs

Thanks for your checque for which I enclose receipt.

Have you no accounts yet of the sales of "Darwinism"² in America, and no remittance of the royalty due on them?³ I shall be glad to know to know, at all events, how many copies have been sold in America, and also how many of the 3rd. Ed.⁴ are now sold in England.

I cannot say that I see any connection between the [2] demand for "Darwinism" and demand for popular "Natural Histories". I should have thought it showed that people felt more interest in the greater problems of Natural History than in the details of habits, structure, & classification which so many books, both popular & scientific, supply. Any how, such a work as you suggest is entirely outside of my specialty & equally beyond my power to undertake. To do it well would occupy many ^several years with full access to libraries [3] & museums and a detailed knowledge of at least some[?] one[?] important division of the Animal Kingdom — a knowledge I do not possess.

With regard to "Tropical Nature"⁵ I mentioned when discussing the publication of "Darwinism" that I should like to have that work ⁽"^{Tropical Nature}"⁾ and the "Contributions to Natural Selection" republished in one volume at a moderate price, omitting one or two of the less popular Essays. As soon as I can find time I will see about [4] preparing this new edition which I am inclined to think will sell well. I can hardly think of any title but — "Natural Selection & Tropical Nature" Explaining in the Preface that it is a reissue of two works in one volume.

Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]