WCP3518

[1]

Frith Hill, Godalming.

Feb^y. 27th. 1886

Dear D^r. Cook¹

I am really very sorry that I denied having had "Life & Habit"² from you, but I really believed I was right & I think I can now explain it.

Very shortly afterwards I got a copy from "Nature" for review, and as I evidently did not then return your copy, I must have supposed you had given it me. About a year later I met Mr. Butler³ at Miss Buckley’s⁴ & he kindly offered me copies of all his books I had not got and I received them from [2] his publishers. About three years ago finding I had two copies of "Life & Habit" & thinking one must have been given me by Mr. Butler I gave it to a friend, Mr. Skertchly,⁵ who greatly admired it; and I had then totally forgotten that I had had it from you, & had ever spoken to you about it! As I think I only met you once when I had the pleasure of accompanying Miss Buckley to dine with you and I do not think I even had more than one or two letters from you perhaps you can excuse such a lapse [3] of memory after seven years— just the period, bye-the-bye, in which physiologists used to tell us we changed every atom of our bodies, brains & all!

I am afraid I cannot undertake to review your book. It is not in my line, & I now write no reviews except for "Nature" when the books are sent me. I am too, very busy now writing a book of my own, & also making arrangements for a lecture tour in America⁶ & perhaps Australia too, to begin next autumn.

The land question is moving [4] indeed, but I am afraid our legislators will bungle it.

With best wishes | Believe me | Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

P.S. If you think you lent me the book & did not intend me to keep it I will get another copy & send you.

A.R.W.