WCP3754

[1]

The Dell, Grays, Essex.

Sept^r. 27th. 1873

My dear Huxley¹

As learned counsel say to the learned judge — "Even your lordship with all your acuteness and experience"— can hardly get at the meaning of Volckman's² essay³ by skimming it. I am not therefore surprised that you claim him as an anti-Administrative nihilist, — I thought so on ^a first reading. But conversation with him & [2] a second careful reading enabled me to see that he never contemplates bringing about the reforms he suggests by legislation, but solely by influencing public opinion, and bringing society into such a condition that legislation on the subject may not be required.

Neither does my coal letter imply any change of opinion as to limitation of State functions. I maintain that a great wrong has been [3] done by governments in ever allowing minerals to become private property. All the arguments against private property in land apply with tenfold force of private property in minerals, — but as the evil is pressing, & it will ^be useless abolishing property in minerals some centuries hence when none will be left, I propose an immediate remedy, only needed because past governments have gone far beyond their proper [4] functions in giving away to private persons what they had no right to give away.

I reserve therefore full right ^liberty to attack administrative everythingism whenever occasion arises.

With best wishes | I remain | yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

T. H. Huxley Esq.,

P.S. Volckman will both clarify & expand when he writes his book. It is almost his first literary effort. A.R.W.