WCP3382

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Oct^r. 22nd. 1899

Messrs Macmillan & Co

Dear Sirs

I am now preparing for the press a collection of my various Review & other articles under the title —

Studies, Scientific and Social.¹

I enclose for your inspection a list of the articles, which will form 2 vols. of 500 and 450 pages (about) of same page & type as my "Island Life"² (400 words to a page).

I have ^purchased some wood-blocks to illustrate Chap. I. & shall get copies of others from the Zool. Soc. for Chap. 2. Ch. 8 & 9, I [2] hope to get Photos. for; and also for Chap. 15 & 16.

The majority of the articles are discussions of various problems or replies to objections to theories of ^general scientific interest, & judging by the letters I have ^had about several of the articles, I think they will be generally interesting & popular. Some of the articles contain entirely new views on interesting subjects, & the book will be a kind of supplement to my other works.

I wish to know if you will undertake the publication on the same terms as the cheap [3] editions of "Island Life," & "Natural Selection",³ the volumes to be brought out in the same style.

The first vol. will be ready ^{for printing} in a week or two. The other in a month or so.

The 1st. art. in vol. II appeared in the "Reader" in 1865, a paper which Herbert Spencer⁴ helped to get up & I think edited, but which lived a year only. I forget who published it. Can you inform me, as I must get permission to reprint it.

Believe me | yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]